MJ's World

Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me

2011-06-18T11:58:00.000-05:00

Lemonade Stand

2011-06-18T11:35:00.004-05:00

I was in my old neighborhood the other day and drove down the street I lived on from ages 2 until 23. My mom lived there until she passed away 4 years ago. What a pleasant surprise to see a group of exuberant kids at the bottom of the driveway of the house I knew most of my life.

"LEMONADE!!! Pleeeeeease stop!" they shouted at me as I slowed down and grinned at them. I pulled over and asked, "Do you live here? This is my old house. I grew up here!" The 10-year-old girl who matched the dad and little brother up near the house looked at me in surprise.

I chose lemonade from their poster board menu. "Give her a crazy straw!" they all shouted to the concessionaire. I paid and was handed a purple cup of fresh-squeezed lemonade (complete with floating lemon seeds) and a blue swirly straw that was way too big for the cup.

"Have a nice day!" they shouted as I pulled away from the curb.

I sipped the lemonade as I drove back home, and a tear came to my eye. How many lemonade stands did we have throughout the years in that very same spot? We never could imagine any other family but ours living at 680 Hazelvalley. Now a new family with new kids has taken our place. What a refreshing feeling to "meet" the new tenants and see that they are continuing the tradition in the house that built me.

P.S. That was the best lemonade ever. :o)

Daily Making a Difference in My Life

2010-12-19T08:58:00.002-06:00

I'm grateful for that boy genius, Mark Zuckerberg

2010-12-06T19:33:00.004-06:00

What did we ever do before Facebook? :o)

What's Wrong with This Picture?

2010-12-05T15:34:00.003-06:00

My daughters are going to their dad's tonight for their new blended-family Christmas pictures. I have lots of friends and family with blended families. This is not a new concept to me. It just feels really odd that my girls will be in a family picture without me!

I struggle with this perception: This man took a vow to be faithful to only me, till death do us part. He slept with numerous women while we were still married (all the while pretending to be the good husband). Now he skips off into the sunset with a new wife and family. Something is truly wrong with this picture.

And it's not just me. I see this happening in today's society all too often. People are throwing away their marriages with a casual toss at the slightest sign of boredom or problems. Where is the commitment? Are there none that are faithful and want to work out their problems anymore in this day and age?

Beyond Thankful

2010-11-18T14:57:00.005-06:00

A scene from my early morning walk

Thanksgiving is fast becoming my next favorite time of year after Christmas. What used to be just a prelude to the big holiday season, has now become a time of reflection and gratitude for me, finding myself thankful even for the difficult times. I continue to be amazed at God's goodness and how He is turning a tragedy in my life right around into a most beautiful thing.

And why did I try to hang on so long to something that made me so miserable? Because change is difficult and requires us to stretch ourselves and move beyond what we are used to--even if it's uncomfortable, cramped, and suffocating in the little box of life we resign ourselves to.

The horizon before me ever widens as time moves on. And this inexplicable sense of liberty keeps expanding as I move forward. There is still much in me that needs to change, and I'm not disillusioned to think everything will be pie in the sky. I know there will be difficult times ahead. Such is life. But I like the view I have in front of me, and I'm looking forward to the surprises God has in store.

A Symbol of My Life

2010-10-23T11:28:00.002-05:00

This is my "tree" that my ex's grandmother gave us in the last year of our marriage. It looked different then. It was tall, ugly, and gangly. I wanted to leave it out on the deck in the winter to die, along with my marriage. But I didn't. And the next spring, along with my new life, I hacked away at all the old crap. There was new growth at the bottom, and this is what it looks like 3 years later. A symbol of my life. Oh, and I love the tree now, by the way! And my life. :o)

You can see in the background the gangly ugliness of the tree in its previous life (and we won't talk about the guilt flowers from my ex when I had NO CLUE he was being unfaithful to me, but I digress!)

Let Me Eat Cake ;o)

2010-10-11T22:19:00.008-05:00

Last Friday night, I enjoyed a delicious slice of my ex-husband's wedding cake.

Yes, you heard that right!

The wedding and reception were held at the couple's house so my daughters, in their beautiful bridesmaid dresses, brought home enough leftovers for us to host a small dinner party ourselves. As I stood in my kitchen and partook of the delicious chocolate and cream cheese cake (home made by the bride herself), I smiled and thought of how far I have come in these past few years.

In fact, as hard as it is to explain, I felt a sense of elation that my ex was remarrying. Even though we have been disconnected for some time, this day seemed to pronounce an even deeper sensation of liberty in my life. It makes no sense, I know, but I think someday I will see.

Forgiveness is quite a beautiful thing. It is indeed a gift from God as I never ever could forgive that man on my own. Harboring anger, resentment and the bitterness that stems from it only served to make me a miserable person. As time passed, I realized how much better my life has become as a single woman. This sense of liberty arose within me, a freedom like I never knew.

I remember talking to God several years ago, feeling so trapped in a miserable marriage, wondering, "Is this all there is to life? I made a vow, 'till death do us part,' that I will adhere to, but God, is this as good as it gets?" The simple reply I got and didn't understand at the time was, "Just wait."

I received my own proposal of marriage a few weeks ago from a lovesick man who just isn't my type. His affection is endearing, but makes me realize what an independent woman I have become. At one time in my life, I felt I needed a husband to make me worthwhile. I took the first best thing to come along, even though there were many flaws and it wasn't a good match. There was true love for awhile, but it was short-lived (on his part anyway) and it left me in the cold, wondering what in the world I had been doing.

So I celebrated that night with that sweet slice of cake, wishing my ex and his bride all the best in my mind (and lots of good luck to her!!)

The path before me opens ever wider. Unlimited possibilities are within reach.

Dreams really do come true, Cinderella, and they don't always revolve around a prince.

It's a piece of cake! ;o)

2010-09-23T19:59:00.001-05:00

"Please.....what is this......how do you say.....'carry'?" Arina from Kazakhstan asked with her wide blue eyes and shy smile.

I am beaming because I have found my calling, or actually I should say I knew my calling but am finally putting it into action!

Last week I began as a volunteer tutor in an English as a Second Language (ESL) class at a local high school. The certified teacher, Victoria, threw me right into the teaching on the very first day. It felt so natural for me to read a simple story to the class. I carefully a-nun-ci-at-ed each sound, asked the students to "repeat please," and had fun demonstrating what the word, "sway" means by moving back and forth as if I was a tree!

The class of 12 or 13 students range in age from early 20s to late 50s. Countries represented (so far) include Korea, Mexico, Ukraine, Venezuela, Kenya, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and El Salvador. The very first evening I walked in, the students smiled and looked at me with respect. Within 10 minutes, Soon, an older Korean lady, called me "Teacher," and my heart melted!

All these students are here voluntarily to improve their English. It's awesome that they attend for free as the program is funded through the State of Missouri.

I love it when Antonio from Mexico corrects Boris from Ukraine on the correct personal pronoun he needs for a sentence. I love it when we, as a class, from different languages, cultures and parts of the world, can share a joke and all laugh together. I love to see the look in their eyes when understanding comes upon them.

I already knew, but have learned even moreso, that a smile knows no language barriers. I love it when I see the students from different countries partnering together in their workbooks.

I love it that at last I have taken one giant leap into my future!

I'm Updating Just for You, Helen!

2010-04-21T23:00:00.011-05:00

Um, yeah well. I'm rather embarrassed that I never seem to have anything to say here anymore. Maybe because I'm obsessed with the short-and-easy random statuses I leave on Facebook?

Kat's friend Helen told her to tell me to update, so here I am! TA-DA! :o)

I just survived another tax season. Strange, but good. My top week was 92.5 hours. The older I get, the more stamina I seem to have. Hmm. I imagine one of these years I'll just collapse for real! But I love my job. The overtime is great (and the extra cash, necessary) and the long hours are just short-term.

Now I'm in recovery mode, trying not to fall into the laziness trap and trying not to get overwhelmed by my very long to-do list. Today I made an excursion to this place. I used to be intimidated by such places back in my married days when I was a completely differently person and didn't realize that women could like this stuff too! I'm making a wishlist of cool things I want (yeah, they're really cool to me now!) leaf blower/vacuum, Shark steam mop, maybe a power washer. (I know - call me a freak!)

I've been following Dave Ramsey's program of paying off the debt I've accumulated because of and since my divorce. I haven't used a credit card since last November. Yeah! I'm anticipating being debt-free (except for the house) in three years. Then I'll be off to see the world (Lord willing!) Whee!

Another daily part of my life is this and what a HUGE blessing Brian Hardin and his ministry has been to me. I love his realness. God wants us to be REAL, not caught up in tradition and surrounded by a bubble to protect ourselves in. So many people are just too comfortable in their saved spot on the pew each week. WWJD? He got out in the streets where the real people were. I want that too.

What's in a Name?

2010-01-13T18:59:00.007-06:00

My good friend, Kelly, posed a question on Facebook this morning: "What does your name mean and are you living up to it?" Interesting. I've always known the importance of names in biblical days, but today? I didn't give much thought to naming my girls Kaitlynn ("pure") Rose ("fame or flower") and Emily ("rival") Ann ("grace"). I just liked the beautiful sound of their names.

I Googled a name-meaning website and discovered this:

My first name Mary means "sea of bitterness" (I have swam in that sea) and "rebelliousness" (I have defiantly raised that banner high). I like the Egyptian meaning which is "beloved." My middle name is Johanna which is the female version of John which means "gracious" - So I shall call myself "Beloved Grace" and hope I can live up to that! :o)

Kelly told me that Dr. Gerald Jeffers recently spoke on the name Mary which comes from "Mariam" which originally comes from "Moriah" (bitter water). Jesus was born from something meaning "bitter" and He turned it into something great. I like that!

Which reminds me of one of my favorite worship songs, "So Beautiful" by Kari Jobe and Christ for the Nations. Here is the verse that always touches me so deeply:

Merciful Father

There is none that compares to you

Who can take my bitterness

And make something sweet?

Only You

This is a cool website to check out: Behindthename.com

So what does your name mean? Are you living up to it?

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T10:06:00.004-06:00

Wow....WOW

This is the first New Year's Eve since I've been a teenager that I'm not melancholy and wistful and regretful and fearful about the old year and the new.

Why has my life always revolved around have the perfect, ideal man - just having a man? I guess that's due to the fairy tales we girls are raised on. "Your Prince Charming is out there!"

Bleh.

I waited for Prince Charming and he turned out to be an ugly toad in disguise. And every New Year's Eve I wished and hoped the new year would magically turn him into a prince. But he only became more hideous.

And then *poof* he was gone. And I was sad. Because I thought he was the one and only frog. But once I realized it was a good thing he was gone, I thought instantly the REAL Prince Charming would come galloping up on his white steed.

But.....the real Prince Charming apparently had issues of his own and could not be found.

So, to make a long story short, this princess is FINALLY and happily content - truly content - to know her self-worth does not involve having a Prince Charming in her life to make her happy.

Now I celebrate the old with no regrets and look joyfully into the New Year and thankful for the road behind and the one that's ahead. No fear, no doubt, no sadness!

Praying you will have a regret-free and hopeful 2010 as well!

Mourning my Coffee Pot

2009-12-27T09:21:00.004-06:00

Is it wrong to mourn an inanimate object? Yesterday, Emily, in all her 14-year-old carelessness, flung my coffee pot away from the wall, trying to access the microwave. I heard a crash and gasped to see my little 6-cup decanter from Gevalia strewn across the kitchen floor in millions of pieces!

It's not that big of a deal. I can probably run up to Walgreen's and get a replacement. But that coffee pot has been around 15 years and has made me many a fine cup of coffee! Since the ex didn't drink coffee, it was the perfect size for me. I could get just about 2-1/2 mugs from it.

That coffee pot saw me through major changes in my relationship with God - through many good conversations with Him and some deep, revelatory Bible studies. That coffee pot has been around since the early moments when I saw my marriage fall apart and subsequent years where I tried valiantly and failed not-so-valiantly to save my marriage. That coffee pot has seen me through laughter, tears, hundreds of journal entries, hours on the phone, hours spent online, chatting with friends or emailing, comforting times in the sunroom, watching the rain, or the snow. That coffee pot has been around for all the holidays over the years and since my girls were very small!

*sniff*

Thank you for sharing this time of mourning with me. Thankfully I still have my big coffee pot to fall back on!

An Orange in Your Stocking

2009-12-20T12:32:00.005-06:00

I'm trying to be healthy amidst the holiday banquets, Christmas cookies, and extra decadent treats that appear this time of year. As I ate my egg substitute breakfast and peeled the orange to go with it, I reflected on Christmases of my early years. Mom used to always put an orange in our stocking, along with the standard pack of gum, pair of socks, and other trinkets.

I could never understand the point of the orange. Why is it a gift when I can walk into the kitchen and take one out of the fruit basket any time I please? Mom explained that when she was a child, an orange was a rare thing and considered to be a big treat when found in a stocking on Christmas morn.

Following tradition, I pack my own children's (and nieces' and nephew's) stockings with the standard package of gum, pair of socks, and other trinkets. It's not surprising to see my girls politely smile at the package of gum and wonder why it's there when they can have gum any time they choose. I explain to them that growing up in a household of five children and one income, a WHOLE package of gum to ourselves was indeed a treat to us!

It makes me wonder what items will be found in the Christmas stockings of my grandchildren someday. Will they look to their mothers and ask, "Why is this here?" and listen as their moms explain that when they were a child, it was a rare treat indeed.

Wishing you and yours a very blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

My List

2009-07-25T11:28:00.003-05:00

Back in January or February, I made the following ATS "after tax season" list of things I wanted to accomplish. I'm proud to say that over half of these are checked off! I have come to a place of forgiveness in my life and with that comes great blessing! I am seeing dreams coming true. Wow, God is so cool! :o)

WALK far and long.
Get in shape.
Get healthy.

CLIMB stairs at Creve Coeur Lake.
(prepare for my future)

Get in a routine.

Thoroughly clean one room per night for starters.

Yardwork/garden ---> *Stop being afraid and learn to enjoy it!

It's good for you and satisfying to the soul.*

Work out and implement a debt reduction plan.

Contact International Institute.
Meet Bhutanese/Nepalese.

It's Time for Me to Fly!

2009-07-09T22:41:00.004-05:00

*Free Chick!*

"I'm tired of holding onto a feeling I know is gone. I do believe that I've had enough....I believe it's time for me to fly." - (written by Kevin Cronin, REO Speedwagon)

Tomorrow, July 10, 2009, marks the one-year anniversary of my Emancipation....from the heartache, worry, stress, grief, pain, anguish, dashed hopes and dreams of a failed marriage that I tried so hard to make work on my own.

Whoa, before I get too melodramatic here, let me say this this has been a FANTASTIC year! I have been more than abundantly blessed by God. My Jehovah Jireh (my Provider). I have no cause for worry. This past year has been a relief.

I wish I could say that I'm completed healed from my 20-year-old marriage crashing down but I'm impatiently learning how things take time even when we want to rush them along.

So last year at this time, the future was so BRIGHT for me (even through the pain). I made a list of the new hopes and dreams I had. But I've learned in the past year, sometimes we think we are going from Point A to Point B but may end up at Point C, something totally unexpected. How cool is that!?

I'm renewing old friendships and making new ones and feel so blessed at all the people I have in my life. I just became president of my company's Toastmasters club (who me?!) Life is constantly changing.

Sometimes what we think is bad can sometimes turn out to be really good.

Excuses, Excuses!

2009-04-24T20:45:00.005-05:00

Okay, a real post this time! ;o) Em dropped my camera right before tax season and I feel lost blogging without any "real" pictures! Then she dropped HER camera I bought her for Christmas. As soon as it's back from repair (thankfully I forked over the extra $25 for the warranty), I'm stealing it from her and getting back into the groove!

This is the second weekend after Tax Day and I feel like it's finally a "real" weekend. Last weekend I was still out of it from exhaustion. I find myself in the place where I question myself. Where do you draw the line between relaxing and just being plain lazy! ;o)

At the end of tax season, my mind is full of plans for afterwards: projects, organizing, painting, cleaning, learning to like yard work. Then, it never fails, a few weeks after tax season ends, I find myself drained and lacking motivation.

Next weekend I am traveling to the Ozarks (a 4-hour drive from here) with a group of friends for a MUCH NEEDED scrapbooking retreat! We are renting a huge house on the lake. I sooooooo need a getaway in order to get back into scrapbooking mode. Plus a BIG bonus!! Jenn, one of my AOL scrapbooking loopies (we've been together as a group over 10 years) will be driving up to scrap with us one day. This will be the first time I have ever met one of my loopies, so.................. I CAN'T WAIT!!

Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri

Okay, I'm getting my butt up from the computer and going to do something productive about here.

Stay tuned!!! (Oh, and thanks for reading, by the way!)

Heartbeat, Its a Lovebeat- Defranco Family

2009-04-23T22:27:00.001-05:00

Ah, my 6th grade love, Tony Defranco! (This is where my love of Italian men started! LOL)

Beauty in Unexpected Places

2009-03-30T01:41:00.004-05:00

We have been having some beautiful spring weather here in Missouri lately. But our motto is, "If you don't like the weather in Missouri, stick around--it will change!" I should know better than to get excited about good weather so early in the season.

Sure enough, I awoke Saturday morning to rainy, damp, cold weather. I went out into the sunroom and was pleasantly surprised with this sight! I bought this plant last summer. It has survived all winter despite my neglect (I think I've only watered it three times all winter!) The pot had even turned over on its side.

This was a gentle reminder to me that life can take us by surprise. We can't always go by what we see on the outside. Outside it was rainy and cold, but inside, new life was blooming, even in a place where it was unexpected.

Happy Spring!

Moving Forward

2009-03-12T06:37:00.005-05:00

For several years now, the phrase, "move forward" has come to mind often, especially when praying about various situations. Those words were vital to me when I was caught trudging through life in the months right before and after my marriage ended. My relationship with God is the only thing that propels me forward as I cannot do this alone.

Life seems to be flying at me double-speed these days (mainly good things, thankfully!) I see dreams coming true and am learning it's all in the attitude. Proverbs 23:7 says, "...as a man thinketh, so he is in his heart..." I have learned the truth in this! You ARE what you think! I see doors opening before me. In the past, I would hesitate and wonder what was on the other side? What if I made a mistake? What if I failed? It was safer to stay where I was. But staying in the same place makes one stagnant. I have to move forward. I have to take the chance.

When I face those mountains that loom ahead of me in life, I hold my head up and move forward. I'm not looking back. I'm not standing still. There's no place to go .... but forward.

It's funny how a simple conversation can point you in the right direction. Several years ago an old friend mentioned that he wanted to visit Mt. Everest. Interesting to me because, at the time, I had never given that part of the world any thought before. Soon after, I heard someone speak about Nepal (where Everest is located) and my heart was captured. I started to think this was not a coincidence. Actually traveling to that part of the world (albeit Bangladesh) confirmed what my heart was telling me. These were my people! That same friend mentioned he then wanted to go to Bhutan. "Where??" I thought (and was embarrassed to see that Bhutan was just located 2 hours north of where I had been in Dhaka).

Thanks to modern technology and my Facebook obsession, I now have a friend and future tour guide in Bhutan, my cool friend, Karma! Check out his website. http://www.go2bhutan.com/ It really is a small world after all.

Moving forward.....

Authentic

2009-02-28T21:02:00.004-06:00

Get real.

That's what I want.

That's what I crave.

I've noticed that some people are afraid of authenticity. It's much easier and comfortable to stay where they are, in their own little, safe box labeled, "complacency."

I have found that some people get angry at me for wanting to be real. Some people run away. Some people cannot bear the thought of change.

But I can't stay there anymore. It's suffocating.

Life is too short.

I want what's real.

I want what's true.

Happy Valentine's Day, My Friend!

2009-02-13T23:18:00.002-06:00

Do you remember grade school? Valentine's Day was a BIG deal. We would spend weeks (it seemed) decorating shoe boxes with construction paper, paste, colored paper, hearts, doilies, candies, foil, and whatever other cool media we could find. Then we would sign scads of Valentine cards, carefully seal them in mini envelopes and address them to our classmates and friends. The party was so cool! Passing out the Valentines was fun but it was even more exciting to get home and open each one received.

But then....puberty arrives and suddenly a fun holiday has shifted from that of friends to that of feeling pressured to have a "sweetheart" at an age when I still thought most boys had cooties. Not to mention, if I did like a boy, I would rather DIE than let him know my true feelings!!

So since I have been about 13, I haven't liked this holiday very much. Even when I had a true love, I always felt sorry for all the single people out there who were meant to feel like losers for being on their own on this holiday of supposed love.

Even during the years of my marriage, I suppressed a bitterness because marriage was not what I had imagined or expected it to be. Sure I received the obligatory flowers and candy, but decided I would rather have nothing rather than a reminder of what was missing in my life.

So now, I'm past the divorce and experiencing such a relief and freedom in my life and I have declared that THIS Valentine's Day I am changing my attitude. I'm going back to grade school in my thinking...excited about sharing a fun holiday with my friends. No pressure. Love is fair and love is equal and love is cool.......for everyone, no matter if you have a sweetheart in your life or not.

I hope YOU have a wonderful Valentine's Day, no matter how you celebrate!!

Journey - Girl Can't Help It

2009-02-11T16:12:00.001-06:00

I've been obsessed with Journey lately. This song is constantly in my head!

Train drops of jupiter

2009-01-31T23:10:00.001-06:00

missing Marco Polo

Catch Up!

2009-01-27T16:39:00.004-06:00

Hello! Wow, I miss my blogger world! Tax season has been in low gear so far this month, so I thought I would catch up before the storm hits in about two weeks.

Em dropped and broke my camera in December. Accidents happen so I bought her one for Christmas. And she dropped THAT one! So my pictures are very limited now *sniffle!* I will look into getting repaired ATS ("after tax season").

We're snowed in here in St. Louis (well, not literally snowed in, but the driving is dangerous and violin lessons have been canceled for tonight). Last night the three of us played a terrifically fun card came called Nertz.

Tonight we're snuggled in again. We're going to make brownies, put on some Delilah on the radio and play some more nertz! I love this time with my girls!

Long Time!

2009-01-15T07:21:00.006-06:00

Hello everyone!

I've disappeared from the blogger world for awhile because of a) holiday busyness; and b) my obession with Facebook! I hope this finds everyone well. We had a nice, but busy Christmas. And from there, I head straight into tax season. The years seem to be flying by. January is been slow for us at work (thankfully), but the storm will hit about mid-February and you won't see me for awhile until mid-April! (Seems like I just posted about last year's tax season not too long ago!) I look forward to catching up on reading your wonderful blogs. I've missed you all! Take care and God bless! - MJ

A very tried three-of-us late on Christmas Eve, wearing our new Christmas jammies!

One of Katie's Megaglomper friends made this for her. How cool! (Does this make me Edward's mother-in-law?!)

Baby Aly is no more. Now she's Little Girl Aly! She was the highlight of Christmas morning, helping to pass gifts out to everyone (even though she had a look like, "Why am I handing out gifts?") Christmas Eve was dinner at Barb and Brad's. Christmas morning breakfast was at Chris and Jeneane's.

Christmas morning at our house.

Teenagers! (My, how fast they are growing!)

A few weeks before Christmas, Sister-in-Law Jeneane, organized a "pottery night" at the Painted Pot. I learned a new technique - glass cutting. I was taught how to break pieces of glass and glue them together to make an artful project. That's my penguin on the right. It was later put in the kiln and melded together. I hope to do more of this in the future!

Barb, Jeneane, and Melanie at the Painted Pot.

Concentrating on that glue!

On New Year's Eve, Barb hosted her tradition "Kids NYE" party. Every year they write out the highlights of the old year, predictions for the new year, and read previous years' predictions. It's fun to see what they have written in the past!

The "Rob Your Neighbor" game. It's lots of fun, but they look oh-so serious!

My church had a New Year's Eve dinner and service. My pastor had asked me the day before if I would speak 3 - 4 minutes on the past year and how God had taken me through some troubled times (my divorce). I'm so glad I'm in the Toastmaster's public speaking club at work. It made me a lot less nervous and I actually enjoyed the opportunity to speak!

Holiday Happenings

2008-12-09T19:48:00.007-06:00

We've been busy elves around here! Keeping this Christmas time simple so we can enjoy the reason for the season and experience some true PEACE (instead of the normal holiday chaos!)

I'm loving the prelit tree I bought last year! This is the first year ever we decorated the house the day after Thanksgiving. In fact we set the tree up at 12:30 a.m. after Thanksgiving, night owls that we are! ;o)

I've been trying to cook more at home and finding out how more settled I feel. Above is Greek chicken and potatoes served on my mix-and-match holidayware I've collected over the years!

Feefers is taking it all in. He recently experienced his first snowfall and loved it!

I had some friends over for a spa night. We had such a RELAXING, fun time!

Lesia's stylin' baby! LOL This was the part where we exfoliated our lips. It was hilarious!

I've been using BeautiControl products for over a month and can honestly tell the difference. (Do you think I'll get free products for saying that?! LOL)

I hope everyone is enjoying the season.

Make someone feel special today!

My Best Thanksgiving Ever!

2008-11-28T02:00:00.003-06:00

Maybe it was the nicer weather. Maybe it was having the celebration back at my brother's place after a nasty house fire last year. Maybe it's that the kids are growing up and we're not having to follow them around everywhere. I don't know what it was, but this was the most relaxed and fun Thanksgiving I can ever recall!

Growing up, we're were always expected to "behave" at family functions. Although I miss my mom, it's like we have free reign to laugh, act silly, and be ourselves now. The best part (besides the fantastic food) was doing dishes in Marty's kitchen as we rocked out to some of his favorite tunes (and some old songs too!) We danced as we did our chores.

When we were kids, dessert was NEVER served until the dishes were done. Ah, the freedom to let the dishes sit and to enjoy each other's company. There was no official announcement when it was time to clean up. I wandered into the kitchen and picked up a dish cloth and before you know it, everyone was there pitching in....and having a grateful, hysterical, memory-making time of our lives.

How do you deal with the ....

2008-11-25T20:40:00.004-06:00

narrow-minded - adjective intolerant, conservative, prejudiced, biased, provincial, petty, reactionary, parochial, short-sighted, bigoted, insular, opinionated, small-minded, hidebound, illiberal, strait-laced

I have a friend whom I have tolerated for years. She fits every description above. She didn't start out that way (or I wouldn't have become friends with her). Over time, she has increasingly become more and more unbearable. She expects everyone to believe exactly as she does or else she doesn't "approve" of them.

If you live this way for a very long time, you become entirely self-centered as she has become. I hate walking on eggshells around her. I can't be myself around her because I might offend her. I've been bending over backwards, trying to bite my tongue and do the right thing. I have kept my mouth shut and have been forgiving when she has offended ME with her ignorance. I have changed the topic, skirted the issues, talked about the weather, just to avoid getting into a confrontation with her. Because she attends my church, I see people bowing to her attitude as I have, also trying to do the good "Christian" thing.

Recently I have kindly and gently spoken my mind, not about her personally, but about my opinion on some issues. Suddenly I am the enemy. I am the "hypocrite." I greeted her kindly last time I saw her but I don't know how long I can keep up the facade.

What would you do? I need some advice!

Grateful for Good Friends

2008-11-22T23:54:00.004-06:00

I'm grateful for good friends. One of them is Kelly. We first met nearly 12 years ago when I was new to my church. I felt then that we would be good friends. We both have been through a lot in our respective lives in the past 12 years and have recently reconnected through Facebook. Kelly invited me to a women's meeting at her church tonight and I was really BLESSED! It was so good to see Kell in person again and to know that we are indeed really good friends!

Appreciate the Season

2008-11-13T21:11:00.006-06:00

I'm learning to appreciate each season. I used to dread autumn because it ushered in winter (and I despise the cold!). Seeing the flocks of birds fly south always made me sad. I realized my change in attitude the other day when I was happy to see the little guys heading for warmer climates (they must be the smart ones!)

(I can't take credit for the above picture-it's from Google images, but I did take the one below.)

Another part of appreciating the season is taking notice of the moon. It's been so pretty to me lately. This is not a very clear picture, but it's the moon through the branches of my backyard tree.

All my life, it seems, I have kept my opinion to myself (for the most part) so as not to rock the boat. It's been a real eye-opening experience for me through this past election. I voted for what I thought was right in my heart--the truth for me--and was so heavily attacked by friends whom I've discovered are very narrow-minded. I'm amazed at so many people who think it's their way (the way they perceive life) or nothing.

I want to be open-hearted to people. Sure, I have my own convictions, but I know I cannot push them off on others or expect others to believe exactly the way I do. I'm learning that, for me personally, I just can't go with the flow, be content with the status quo. I have to do what's right for me and follow God's leading, even if others do not approve.

Do you feel that????

2008-11-06T12:26:00.004-06:00

It's the earth shaking because Mary Jo is actually cleaning out her scrapbooking area!!! ;o)

I found this pic on the web. Oh, that I should be so organized! But then again, I look at this and realize the scrapping surface is waaaaay too small!

Something to be grateful for...

2008-11-02T21:51:00.004-06:00

Here in the US, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day at the end of November. I have learned in recent years to be thankful each and every day. Our church has a motto: Vision - Mission - Hope. We're taking the church out of the building and into the streets. Tonight a group of us served a turkey dinner at a homeless shelter in downtown St. Louis.

This is the second time Katie, Emily, and I have helped. I love to see the look on my daughters' faces when they realize they are making a difference in someone's life.

That time of year....

2008-11-01T22:41:00.003-05:00

Early in the week it was soooo cold here. We had our first frost warning. But slowly the temperature increased as the week progressed, and Halloween night proved to be a pleasantly warm night. I'm surprised my girls still want to dress up and trick-or-treat at ages 16 and 13 (I thought I was too old myself at 11). Katie said this is her last year. It's sad in a way but also a relief.

We had an unusually wet summer, so the leaves have been slow in changing this year. My backyard tree has finally changed in the past few days. I guess Fall is officially here now!

A local radio station has been playing Christmas songs already. I've been enjoying them while the weather was cool, but it makes me a bit queasy when it's summer-like weather and everyone's preparing for Halloween. I had to take a break. Running my holidays together was getting a little weird!

Tag....you're it!

2008-10-30T23:02:00.004-05:00

I've been tagged by Trish to list six random things about myself and then tag six others.

1) I'm crazy for stationery supplies....notecards, paper, colored paperclips and rubberbands, funky post-it notes, different tacks, etc. And my FAVORITE: journals! I just drool over them (well I try not to unless I pay for it first! LOL)

2) I never realized how close-minded I was until I went through my divorce. Since then, my whole world has opened up. I really wouldn't go back or trade it for anything. It was the most painful thing I went through but out of it came a better person (me) whom I'm actually starting to like.

3) I'm learning that dreams really do come true, even the simple ones. Since I was a little girl I've always wanted both a beagle and a dachsund at the same time. And I have them now, and the cool thing is I didn't plan it that way. I just happened to stumble across both doggies!

4) I've been keeping this private for the sake of argument and people trying to force their own personal views on me, but here it is: I'M VOTING FOR BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT! I'm pro-life, pro-family, but this country is in need of some serious change. I'm learning that swimming against the tide isn't always a bad thing, but sometimes quite necessary.

5) I find myself recently fascinated with a part of the world that always intimidated me......Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, the Middle East, Morocco. I wonder if I'll end up there some day? I was reading in my Bible this morning from the Book of Acts in the New Testament. I got out my Bible map and was surprised to see many of those places were where Paul's journeys took him. Kinda wild!

6) I love the song, "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors (okay, that was REALLY random! LOL)

Ok, now I pick 6 people:
1. Rhona
2. Jenn
3. Lisa
4. Jolene
5. Tascha
6. Eleni

The rules:
1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

My Squash Adventure

2008-10-30T22:00:00.005-05:00

I have always had an aversion to vegetables. Growing up, I only liked peas and lima beans because they were easy to swallow whole! As I grew older, peer pressure (i.e., not wanting to look like a fool in front of my friends) caused me to go out on a limb and try new things. So I do eat a few healthy things, but still whenever I would diet, I would think of veggies as the enemy!

Since I've been meeting with Rachel, my nutrition guru, her excitement about healthy things has been catching!

The butternut squash hacked up!

I toasted the seeds and they were yummy!

Yay! It turned out like sweet potato pie. I threw in some vanilla, cinnamon, and browns sugar. Delicious! Now I'm excited about trying more different things.

More Fallness

2008-10-29T07:36:00.003-05:00

Emily shows off her colors from her visit to the orthodontist yesterday. Smart girl opted against the Halloween colors as her next appointment is not until December 9th!

Last weekend I went with a friend to the Illinois Ladies Retreat (a church thing) in Bloomington, Illinois. Along the way we stopped at Blue Springs Cafe in Highland, Illinois. Delicious home cooking and home of the Foot Hi Pie. (I stand corrected as I always call them "Mile High" pies!)

This was on the wall at violin lessons, so I had to snap a pic of it! :o)

Fallness

2008-10-27T06:53:00.004-05:00

Katie spotted this squirrel outside my window, taking a break for some sun bathing!

Phoenix is all snuggled up for a cool, fall evening!

I love crunching through the leaves on a warm, fall day. As a kid, once mid-September hit, Mom never allowed us outdoors barefoot, even if the weather was warm. So I didn't get to experience barefoot leaf-crunching until I was an adult!

I had this plant on the deck all summer. It had become tall and gangly and overgrown, so I chopped the heck out of it and decided to just go with the new growth at the bottom.

It was late at night when Katie snapped this one. This is me, very tired, trying to look like I'm not! That's a butternut squash at my elbow. I'm planning on cooking it this week (something new!)

Finished!

2008-10-20T21:06:00.002-05:00

All day at work I was actually looking forward to getting home and finishing this job. I'm so pleased with it! And besides having room to park the car AND finding the missing garage door remote, guess what else I found??? My missing Disney World pics!! Yay!! We went there at Christmas in 2000 and I have torn the house apart looking for them. I was beginning to fear I had accidentally thrown them away. But there they were, tucked away in a box in the corner!

I love this self-portrait Em took. It reminds me of a Nancy Drew cover! Emily McConnell and the Case of the Missing Jonas Brother. LOL!!

Season of Change

2008-10-19T14:40:00.004-05:00

(My daisies from Sue hung in there for a long time, brightening my kitchen. What a good start to each day with this pretty sight each morning!)

All throughout the summer, I have parked the car in the driveway and the garage quickly became a catch-all. Now with the weather cooling down, I'm not looking forward to scraping frost or ice off the windows, so it's time to make room for the car!

Oh my - does this not look like one of those photos where a tornado just came through?! Last fall when I had the garage door fixed, I literally just threw stuff towards the back of the garage to squeeze my car in. This time I thought I'd better do it right!

I'm about halfway done, but it's looking good and I'm getting rid of a TON of clutter and old memories that no longer serve any purpose in my life.

I reflect upon a year ago. I was newly separated and still very much in shock even though I had much hope for my future and saw the door opening wide to dreams I never imagined could ever possibly come true.

A year later, I have grown and learned SO much, and honestly? I would not trade any of the sorrow or pain I have experienced. It most certainly has made me a much stronger person with the help of God. I never ever could be as close to God as I feel now, if not for the trials I have gone through.

Moving on.....moving forward!!!!

Andrea Bocelli sings Elmo to sleep

2008-10-10T07:07:00.001-05:00

Andrea can sing me to sleep any night! ;o) hee! hee!

Okay, a real post now ;o)

2008-10-04T23:00:00.002-05:00

Hey all! I know it's been awhile. Life and work has kept me busy (I know, I know - I've been on Facebook a lot, but that doesn't require quite as much brain power!)

We're heading into our "2nd Tax Season" of sorts. October 15th is when the extended individual tax returns are due (the ones that didn't go out last April 15th). There's a LOT of procrastination where I work, so we will be slammed next week. Last year it went like this: Week 1 - I worked 37 hours (normally 30-35); Week 2 - I worked 52 hours; Week 3 - I worked 75.5 hours! This year I have worked only 50 hours this week (ONLY!) LOL

Okay, here is some catch-up from my life.

I AM WOMAN - HEAR ME ROAR! (rawr)

A couple years ago during a weird ice storm, a large upper branch on this tree broke off and has been gradually making its way down the tree. It finally got to the point where I was able to pull some of the dead pieces down (after many prayers of protection for the house, the deck, the window, the roof, and me!)

looking down from the deck - (this is a view of my messy patio that I hope to turn into a lovely sitting area next spring!)

Last weekend with the help of a rake and advice from Emily who was supervising, I was able to bring this baby down! It was resting on the tree and the roof (to the right, and just above my bedroom window), so I wanted to take it down manually before a giant windstorm did it for me and who knows what damage to the house.

here's part of it - thankfully it came crashing down right here and kinda in slow motion, so there was no damage to humans or property ;o)

DOGGY UPDATE

My little wiener schnitzel - Phoenix! He's really growing!

Sho-Sho! (Shiloh)

Still the king of the castle

BIRTHDAY FLOWERS

Last week I celebrated (belatedly) my birthday with my girls from church. We ate at the Mother-in-Law House in Old St. Charles. Sorry I don't have pics from that. I got some nice gifts and cards, including these flowers. These are from Judy's garden.

Sue got me the lovely yellow daisies!

Have a great rest-of-the-weekend!

Sunshine Day

2008-10-04T20:21:00.001-05:00

Help! I'm stuck in the 70s! ;o) This makes me soooo happy!!!! :o)))

Andy Kim Rock Me Gently

2008-10-04T08:27:00.001-05:00

Taking a trip down memory lane! Remember this one?!

Twitter anyone?

2008-09-26T20:33:00.003-05:00

I've heard of a few people that are on Twitter. I'm not sure I get it. Blogging and Facebooking are one thing, but are there people out there who really want to know every little detail I might choose to share? Or have we become such a self-absorbed society that we assume people will want to know?

Do you Twitter? Let me know what you think of it!

PS - I had all I could take of the first presidential debate (yawn!) I'll have to read the highlights later!

Inspired

2008-09-21T22:17:00.003-05:00

Since 5th grade, I have considered myself a writer. But even though I have doodled, drew pictures, and sketches through the years, for some reason, I never considered myself artistic. Several years ago, a friend looked at me and asked, "Are you an artist?" I scowled and snorted and said, "Huh, NO!"

But thanks to the inspiration of some of my blogger friends, I guess I realized I AM an artist. Just because I don't have aspirations to have a great painting in a museum or even to have people displaying my work in their homes, just like my writing, my art is for fun and lately has been somewhat therapeutic for me. Inspired by Trish, I've just started sketching in my journal.

Last night we were at the Magic House (a hands-on kids' science museum here in St. Louis) for a party. On a whim, I sketched my self portrait, just for fun! (This was a light board intended to sketch silhouettes.)

(Ok, so it doesn't really look like me, but it was fun sketching it!!)

Another inspiration of mine is Tascha in Canada. I love her work, and her blog is so fun, especially the videos. I just recently purchased one of her prints called "Lovers" - isn't it adorable? (You can see a better view of it in Tascha's Etsy shop.)

I'm always inspired by the creativity of my other blogger friends as well, whether showing their scrapbooking projects, photography, or just their artful blog entries. So thanks to all of you for the inspiration!

Cool new widgets and hello to my visitors!

2008-09-09T07:43:00.003-05:00

Hey, check out my side bar and my new widgets I stole from Eleni's blog. I love seeing who has visited my blog.

HELLO to you all!!

And a special HELLO to Kat's "stalker" friends, Helen and Clare in California (hee! hee! just kidding, girls!) They sent Kat these delicious chocolate chip cookies. YUM! :o)

If you follow (or just even visit on occasion) my blog, please sign to the left!

Thanks for reading! :o)

My Messy Little Secret/Blast to the Past/Healthy Eating

2008-09-08T21:02:00.005-05:00

Got your attention, didn't I! ;o)

If I spent less time surfing the web and reading blogs and Facebook, I might actually get some projects done on my To-Do list! I thought that maybe by showing the blogger world what my supposed scrapbook table looks like, you will understand why I never scrapbook anymore!

And also by showing my embarrassing mess to you, my blogger friends, it might put a fire under me to actually do something about it - make me somewhat accountable! I love to read scrapbooking blogs and those who have whole rooms dedicated to their craft just make me drool!

So here is my scrapbooking area (gasp!) It could be really cool. It's on a big, old table in my basement right next to the sliding glass door looking out into the yard. My idea is to not only have the basement and this area organized and presentable, but to have a nice patio/garden area to look out on as I work. Right now it's just a messy concrete slab with no furniture.

(BTW, I have no idea why the talking bird is on my table. You can see it's evolving into a junk table!)

Here is a cool photo of me and my sibs back in 1986. (I was dating my ex at the time.) This was taken on a Sunday afternoon at Sears as a surprise Christmas gift for our parents. I remember the five of us riding in my rusty red Duster and singing along with Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All" at the top of our lungs (hey, I said it was the 80s!)

(Clockwise from top left): Marty (17), Lauren (19), Chris (14), Barb (21) & me (23).

My how we have changed in the last 22 years!

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On my quest for healthier eating habits, I have started meeting with a woman named Rachel who is counseling me in a more healthy lifestyle. She's teaching me about eating healthy and I'm learning about and trying foods I've never heard of!

This is a vinegar that Rachel absolutely raved about when she took me on a tour of Whole Foods. So I had to buy a bottle. I haven't tried it yet. I'm a little nervous. (What the heck is an ume plum anyway?) But I will trust Rachel and be brave and try it!

Rachel told me this was a leek. I have heard of leeks but had no idea (still really have no idea) what they are. It looked interesting. Sadly it's fading away in my fridge. Rachel told me I could chop it up and saute it with garlic. Um...yeah. ;o)

Seriously though, I want to change my habits. Diets don't work for me, and I know I can't and won't change over night. So I'm trying one or two new things a week. So far I have tried quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah"), a South American grain that cooks like rice but is really healthy. I've also tried Swiss Chard, which is similar to spinach. I sauteed it in olive oil and added some Greek spices. It wasn't bad.

For someone who has grown up absolutely hating vegetables, it's taking me time to get used to these new things!

Yummy fall dinner

2008-09-08T07:28:00.002-05:00

Lately it's been a rare occasion when I cook (unfortunately), but yesterday temperatures felt cool and crisp, and I had just received some new recipes in the mail. So I made this! It was quite delicious (if I do say so myself). I'm trying to use more healthy and organic food, but this made for something quick and easy that will be simple to throw together during a busy week.

My friend, Betty, came over yesterday for a visit. It made me realize I haven't had someone over like that for much too long. I always use the excuse that the house is too messy (and it was messy, but Betty and I had a nice time anyway!)

I hate politics!

2008-09-06T22:21:00.004-05:00

Let me start by saying I am a patriotic American and very proud of and thankful for the country we live in and the democracy we have.

However. I absolutely abhor every four years when we must vote for a new president. I'm so sick of the pundits and the opinions and the bashing.

I grew up with do-or-die Democrats for parents. I go to a church where most of the people that attend there boast of being Republican (don't get me started on the mixing of religion and politics!) Being a rebel by nature, I consider myself to be middle-of-the-road. Both sides have issues I like and issues I don't like.

I can't stand people who think it's their way or the highway. I can't stand when people try to force their beliefs on me. I can't stand people telling me how to vote. I don't like when some people vote for a party just because of one issue.

I have known since last fall which candidate I will vote for in the upcoming November election, but I will remain silent on that. #1 - I don't want any debates and people trying to convince me to switch to their side; #2 - It's nobody's business!

Thank you, dear blogger readers, for letting me vent (as I climb down from my soapbox!)

Roadtrip to Nebraska!

2008-09-04T22:13:00.007-05:00

When we saw the summer was quickly coming to an end, Katie, Emily, and I decided to start a new tradition: a Labor Day Weekend road trip! As Katie put it, "It's not so much the destination, but driving for hours in the car, staying at a hotel far from home where there's a pool, a hot tub, cable TV and lots of snacks!"

We talked about Kansas City and Chicago (been there). I suggested a place we have never been too. We talked about Indianapolis but we have driven through Indiana before so we decided to visit a state nearby we have never been to: Nebraska!

It was a beautiful drive. The Labor Day traffic was only bad in the St. Louis area on the way out. The rest of the trip, traffic wasn't bad at all. The zoo was fun. The hotel was nice. We did lots of relaxing and watching HGTV!

peephole for midgets! ;o)

I didn't realize I had booked a suite. It cost only slightly more than a regular room and was very nice.

Extremely comfy beds!

MONKEYS!

We LOVE Oriental Trading and were pleasantly surprised to see their headquarters located right down the road from our hotel.

"Why are you going to Omaha?" so many people asked us. "Because we've never been there!" was our reply. Searching the internet, we thought their zoo looked interesting. And it was! It was well worth paying the admission fee of $11 per person. (We are very spoiled here in St. Louis with our free zoo.)

Kidnapped!

2008-08-28T07:39:00.002-05:00

Monday marked Emily's 13th birthday! (Yep, I'm officially the mom of two teenagers - oy!) Two of her best friends, Emily R and Sydney showed up at our house at 6 a.m., dressed her up silly, and took her out for breakfast before school started. Thanks go out to the sainted Mr. R who so kindly sat out in his truck for 1/2 hour that early in the morning while the girls dressed Emily!

Sydney, Emily, Emily R

An Eventful Day

2008-08-20T06:28:00.009-05:00

Yesterday was an eventful day off work for me. My mother-in-law (ahem--pardon me....former mother-in-law!) and I went shopping in historic Old St. Charles and had a lovely lunch at the Mother-in-Law House. Yes, I thought it would be funny to dine with her there! (I've tried to include the links, but they are not working for some reason.) It was quite lovely and Victorian (my favorite) on the inside. I had their baked potato soup with salad. Their homemade celery seed dressing was yummy!

We walked up and down the cobblestone streets, along the Missouri River, looking in the quaint little shops. Many of the buildings there date as far back as the 1700s! Lewis & Clark, famous American explorers, started out here. It's only ten minutes from my house, but I always seem to forget it's there. It's definitely a little vacation away from home and a great place I like to take out-of-town guests.

After the shopping excursion, she left and Katie, Emily, and I met their dad at the post office to apply for passports for the girls. No, we don't know where we're going! But I want to be ready when the opportunity arises!

An evening at the lake

2008-08-15T22:17:00.003-05:00

We are having such unbelievably beautiful, cool weather here in St. Louis. Normally at this time of year, it's unbearably hot and humid. The girls and I hung out at Creve Coeur Lake which is just 5 minutes from our house. My dad used to take us here when we were little and his generation used to trek out here for family picnics.

Catch Up

2008-08-10T16:13:00.004-05:00

Lest my loyal readers think I've become obsessed with Twilight (who me?!) I decided to show you what else has been going on in our lives this summer.

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Katie and her friend, Brittany, had a Double Sweet 16 picnic a few weeks ago. It was a hot and humid day, but the kids had fun, especially with the water balloons!

Britt & Kat

Em & Kat

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"Bring Your Child to Work" day took place in July also. Even though my girls have almost outgrown it, they still enjoy coming to work with me for a day and helping out in our department. This year the theme was the presidential race. The kids paraded around in these candidate masks. It was kind of scary! Especially when I was concentrating at my computer and looked up to see Obama right next to me!

Working Girls

Hilary and Obama (with a braid!) pay a visit

A parade of candidates (scary!)

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We celebrated Gram's 99th birthday in July also.

Barb & Gram

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Katie's first driving lesson (in the library parking lot)! She did very well. Check out her new specs! She looks so grown up.

It's hard to believe 16 years ago I was folding, sorting, and rearranging tiny baby clothes and dreaming about when my baby would arrive (not until August 22nd). Now just look at her!

No wonder these Twilighters are obsessed!!

2008-08-09T22:43:00.004-05:00

OMG! - I finished Eclipse and am onto Breaking Dawn today. No wonder the fans are crazy. Unlike Katie who insanely read the book 17 hours straight (and paid for it later), I'm going to bed now, but I'm sure I will dream about it all night!

(hee! hee!)

Read!

2008-08-08T19:13:00.004-05:00

I love to read but just never ever seem to find the time these days. Tonight brought an unexpected free evening, so once I sign off here, I'm going to catch up on some reading. Let the paper work and house work sit and wait another evening. I've GOT to finish Eclipse so I can move on to Breaking Dawn!

UPDATE (next day): Well, after an unexpected long phone call from an old friend, and updating my journal, I DID get to read a bit before I fell asleep. So I call last night successful!

Breaking Dawn Midnight Release Party

2008-08-02T10:37:00.004-05:00

We had a fun time at our local Borders last night. The night was filled with costume and trivia contests, a debate over who was better--Edward or Jacob, and a scavenger hunt.

One of the participants in the costume contest.

Katie participated in the trivia contest which started out with 20 - 30 people. She made it to 5th place before she missed a question! She also took part in the costume contest and got several votes for her Volturi costume (for non-Twilight readers, the Volturi are the Italian division of vampires).

One of the very few guys who was there. He joined in the costume contest as the character Emmett. I think he looks like Emmett! He was also very happy for me to take his picture!

Right before midnight (when they could sell the book), a countdown began as if it was New Year's Eve! At the stroke of 12, screams went throughout the store as those lucky enough to be first in line (Katie was 5th!) rushed toward the counters.

It's 10:41 a.m. as I write this. Kat is still upstairs reading and has not been to bed yet (little freak!) She said the book is very intense and good and she can't put it down! I'm almost finished with Eclipse which is the 3rd in the series, so I'll be looking forward to reading Breaking Dawn, the 4th and last in the series.

Peace and love on the earth

2008-07-25T13:18:00.002-05:00

Today I was craving a sandwich from Subway so I went there on my lunch break. There was a sweet, older Greek man running the register, full of vigor and life (like most Greeks I have met). As each customer approached the register, he would ask what the phrase of the day was and point to a note taped to the register that read, "Peace and love on the earth."

When he saw me grinning at him, his face lit up as if he knew me. "Heyyyyy!!" he said, face crinkling. "How are you?!" We bantered on about how peace and love would solve a lot of the world's problems. He told me that everyday he writes a new phrase of the day. I don't remember what his name tag said because it was filled with words about peace and love!

I pointed to the stack of medium-sized cups, asking if that was what came with my meal. He raised his hands up as if to embrace me were there not a counter between us. "You take this," he pointed to the larger cups. "You are my girl!!" He laughed.

That man just made my whole day! As I walked up the street, unable to contain my joy, I noticed a lot of people smiled back at me.

Peace and love on the earth. :o)

That's just the way we roll!

2008-07-23T17:20:00.002-05:00

Nick, Joe, & Kevin Jonas a/k/a The Jonas Brothers

Emily at the concert!

I really didn't want to go, but Barb dragged me along to the JoBros concert here in St. Louis last night. Emily was already going with her dad. Since he had to leave early to go to work, I was able to come down and sit with Em. It turned out to be a really fun time and Em had a blast since she got to see her beloved Nicky!

Nick Jonas

Barb has a serious "mom crush" on Joe. As for me, I was like their mom thinking they were probably too hot in that heat and thinking they were going to get hurt jumping around the stage like that and that some frantic fan was going to pull them into the crowd!

Joe Jonas

Jonas Brothers: Band-In-A-Bus Series Announcement

2008-07-23T09:24:00.001-05:00

Okay, I admit it. I didn't want to go, but the Jonas Brothers concert was fun! :o)

"It's very Greek!"

2008-07-20T23:09:00.003-05:00

We just saw the MOST fantastic, albeit cheesy movie tonight: Mamma Mia! Based on the music of ABBA, set on a small island in Greece, has Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, awesome music, dancing, singing, and silliness. What more could you ask for? Go see it - it's FUN! Plus next to Italy (literally), Greece is probably the next coolest place on earth!

Contemplating. . .

2008-07-19T07:48:00.005-05:00

I usually don't like pictures of myself, but this one I do. This is me: wet, messy hair and all. Contemplating, planning, thinking, looking forward to the future. You can see the joy about ready to burst forth out of me at any second! ;o)

Does anyone know a word for, "Little things that make me really excited and happy?" For me, it would be blank journals! I guess because I flip through the clean pages, really hungry to know what they will say someday. I've been journaling daily. It has been very healing and inspirational for me. It's stirring up a lot of creativity that has been dormant for a long time.

I don't normally buy books (because I have a bookshelf-full already!) Although we visit either Borders or Barnes & Noble weekly, my money is usually spent on a cafe mocha. I must have been in a book-buying mood last night because I couldn't resist these!

Here is a glimpse inside the Italy book. I sat in Borders last night and got completely LOST in this!!

Just some thoughts on my life since my divorce became final last week. . .

There has been nothing but RELIEF. I expected to feel a little sadness, but I think I worked through all that in the long months of the separation.

This week I had to meet Mike at the bank one last time to split our stimulus check from the government. I think he was a little disappointed in my genuine happiness.

For the last 10 - 12 years, I have worked SO hard on saving my marriage. On the surface everything appeared fine. I realized several years ago that Mike wasn't going to try, so I carried all the weight myself. I even tried to make him change. But the more I pushed, the more he drifted away. Even when I backed off, it made no difference. But I was bound and determined to make this marriage work.

I think the relief stems from the fact that I no longer am working to attain the unattainable. I'm really set free. Although I want to just fly forward into my future, I know this is like a waiting phase for me, to gather my bearings, to get my ducks in a row, to enjoy life to the fullness, to appreciate each and every moment of each new day.

( I made this plate at a ceramics night organized by my sister-in-law, Jeneane. We had a great time, and I was really pleased with the outcome of this!)

Twilight Teaser Trailer #2 [HQ]

2008-07-17T20:16:00.001-05:00

Yesssssssssss!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!

My friends are cool! :o)

2008-07-14T22:34:00.003-05:00

Sunday after church my friends took me out for a celebration lunch at my favorite Asian food place, Stir Crazy. Sue even brought a cake that said, "To a Blessed Beginning." She really wanted it to say, "Move On, Mary Jo," but her friend with her at the time didn't think that would be appropriate. I thought it was great, however! So we'll just read between the lines of this nice, polite cake to see what it really says!

Thank you Sue, Patty, Betty, Mary, Lesia, and Brenda. You girls are the best! :o)

Happy Dance!

2008-07-11T05:43:00.005-05:00

It was something I feared would happen for years. It was something I dreaded and worked so hard NOT to allow it to happen. I fought against it and never realized how miserable it made me.

But as of about noon on Thursday, July 10th, it was officially and legally declared that I am now a single woman. I never knew how absolutely relieved I would feel. I'm free from the bondage that had me for so long. On the surface life looked good. I fought the good fight and did everything possible to force the marriage to work....but it didn't.

In the end, I can look back with no regrets. I wasn't a perfect wife. In fact, I became quite a shrew in the past few years because I was tired of fighting to make something happen that just wasn't going to work. I tried to force Mike into a role he couldn't fulfill--that of a good husband.

It's an old cliche, but marriage is a two-way street. I used to say to Mike in frustration, "Do you see that one of my legs is longer than the other? It's because I am dragging this ball and chain all by myself!" Well the shackles have been cut and the chains have fallen! (Can I get a "hallelujah!"?)

When I first got married, I was young and naive. Back then I thought I didn't have worth unless my marital status was that of "Mrs." Because of low self-esteem, I thought Mike was the best I could ever find. I wrote in my journal back then that I was actually mad at him because he wasn't my ideal man. Yet I married him anyway.

If and when I ever decide to marry again, it will not be because I need the man to define who I am. It will be because we have a mutual respect, friendship, and love for one another and want to join together in a true partnership.

For now, it's nice to revel in this newfound independence.

Believe in Something Better

2008-07-10T07:16:00.003-05:00

A few days after the tragedy in my life happened last August, the words, "Something Better" formed so clearly in my mind, I couldn't get away from it. I took it to mean that God has something better in store for my life after going through all the garbage I had been through these past several years. It was so strong in my mind, in fact, that I typed up the words and posted them in the office and in the kitchen to encourage me during down times.

One day I discovered Emily had decorated the sign in the office. This has been a source of encouragement for me these past 11 months.

Last week, I was pleasantly surprised to see a billboard while driving down the road. It's an ad for U.S. Cellular. It was kind of a confirmation for me, and I thought the timing was just perfect with the closure of my marriage this week.

How do you spell relief?

2008-07-07T22:14:00.002-05:00

D-I-V-O-R-C-E (I hear you all singing like Tammy Wynette!)

Yes, FINALLY, after 11 painful months, and 3 long days, the divorce papers were signed today.

And Mike didn't go down without a fight. Every time my attorney left the room, Mike called me every name in the book, slammed my religion, you name it. But that's the person he's become. Point the finger at everyone and everything else so you don't have to take responsiblity for your own actions!

I thought I would be sad when it came to signing away 20 years of marriage, but let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed signing my name on every line.

I also know that I would not wish divorce on my worst enemy!

I feel like I have come out on the other side of a very harsh storm. I'm kind of numb right now, but am looking forward to a great future.

Celebrate!

2008-07-05T07:54:00.003-05:00

We had a "blast" (HA!) at Barb and Brad's on the 4th of July. Everyone was there except for Lauren, who had to work. Our sweet girl, Aly, kept everyone entertained, along with Brad's step-sister, Mandy, and cousin, Riley ;o)

It was so much fun that we, along with Marty, ended up staying past midnight. Thanks to Barb and Brad who always put on a good party!

Aly's getting so big!

Return of Crazy Firecracker Man!

Marty, Unc, Chris, & Brad entertain the kids with snakes and parachutes.

Katie, Emily, & Melanie chillin' by the pool (the weather was surprisingly cool for a St. Louis 4th of July)

Stylin' Aly (Her dad doesn't approve of the two-piece bathing suit though!)

The only safe place from the crazy fireworks!

Emily makes a new friend (Riley)

Check out Aly's itty bitty pigtails!

Mandy, ready to hit the beach.

Me and my girlies!

The stars of the show: Riley (he's a lifeguard!) and Mandy. They belong to Brad's mom and aunt.

Freedom

2008-07-01T06:49:00.003-05:00

July 4th will not only mark our country's day of independence, but also my own independence in a way. It will be the 11-month anniversary of that infamous day when I found Mike's journal that opened with the words, "I love Brandy......." All the fears that had cornered me over the last few years rushed at me and engulfed me. He finally, actually had done it. After all the threats and warnings that if he cheated on me again, it would be over.....it finally came to pass.

I remember that first night after I made him leave, Katie, Emily, and I all crammed into the same bed, all very frightened, none of us able to sleep. A part of me hoped Mike would walk back in the door and tell me it was all just a bad joke and a nightmare. That he was still the good man he was back when he married me. That he only loved, desired, and was faithful to me.

But real life doesn't happen that way. I can say I have been through every range of emotion in this, but here we are, almost a year later. Hopefully the divorce papers will be signed this week (now that Mike has finally fired his crazy lawyer who has kept this dragging on way too long). I also will close on the refinance loan this week that will put the house in my name alone.

Last year at this time, things were pretty tense around this household. Katie already knew about the affair and Emily had her suspicions. I was clueless although I knew something was severely wrong with Mike. He had already become a stranger and I was feeling really creeped out, but I just didn't know why.

All in all, we just don't know how our lives can change in such a short time, do we? It's making me appreciate each moment, even the bad ones. It's all part of the journey, and I have to say, despite all the heartache, I'm really liking the Mary Jo I've become (and am becoming). Who knows where life will take me next. Or what my journal entry will say a year from now. All I can say is that I'm looking forward to the adventure!

To all of you who may be going through it, whatever it is in your own life, hang it there. The bad stuff won't last and when you do make it through, there will be an incredible liberty like you have never known!

Emily Alien

2008-06-29T22:56:00.001-05:00

The real Emily ;o)

No cast for Emily - woohoo!

2008-06-21T09:40:00.002-05:00

We had good news at the doctor's office yesterday. Emily doesn't have to wear a cast and can go swimming, shower and bathe. Woohoo!! A week after her surgery (when she was supposed to have the real cast put on), the doctor decided the incision looked a little infected. So he put her on antibiotics, told us to keep her foot wrapped up in an ace bandage and wear a special, non-weight-bearing protective boot.

He decided since she has done so well with that, there's no need for a cast. She's free to lose the ace bandage and wear socks. Last night, Emily looked down at her socked feet and said, "Look Mom, it looks like I have normal feet!" She will go back to the orthopedist in two weeks to see if she can start putting some weight on her foot.

We are so grateful for a quick healing!

(Insert screaming teenagers here)

2008-06-20T22:16:00.006-05:00

Someone help meeee.............I've been swept back into the preteen zone! It's the Jonas Brothers and "Camp Rock" which I just watched with the eternally teenaged Barb (yes, she really does still have a crush on Donny Osmond!) and the preteen cousins, Emily and Melanie.

It was a fun evening, laughing and giggling over the "cute boys" until I looked at Barb solemnly and said, "Barb. Joe was born in 1990. You could be his MOTHER!" LOL

Rock on, JoBros, you little cuties!

How much is that doggie in the window?

2008-06-16T22:46:00.003-05:00

Phoenix discovered tonight he can stand up and look out the sunroom window to watch the girls in the yard next door! Look how long he's getting! He's four months old already. (Sorry for the blurry photo. This was taken with my camera phone.) He has a lot of nicknames now: Feefers (my name for him), Feenie-Weenie (Em's name for him), Fee-Fi (Kat's name for him), Snickerdoodle, Scrappy Doo, Skeeziks, Monkey Dog, Felix, and the list goes on!

My beautiful girls - relaxing on the deck!

Kat

My Rooftop Garden....

That's what Emily called this batch of maple seedlings that took root in our gutters. We got an abnormal amount of rain this spring, so these little guys really went crazy! (again, sorry for the poor quality photos)

(before)

Katie helped me clean out the front gutters a few weeks ago, but I wasn't about to brave the extension ladder on the 2-story backside of the house. However, I HAD to do something as a 1,000 little maple trees had established their own little forest in my gutters!! So I called this great company which I found on the internet. They were incredibly nice and helpful.

(after)

They filled up this bucket FULL of the little trees and years of leaves and other gunk.

(I promise to use the real camera next time!!)

My Latest Obsession!

2008-06-14T20:23:00.003-05:00

O...M...G.....!! I swore I wasn't going to get sucked into it, but I have been! Facebook is SO fun!! Here's the link. (Hopefully that works. Message me if it doesn't.) You do have to sign up to get in there. Did I tell you, it is SO FUN~!! :o)

Twilight - The Movie

2008-06-06T22:46:00.005-05:00

Wow, I know....two posts in one day!! I just have to comment on Twilight. Katie has managed to get Barb and me acting like a couple of giddy teenagers over this series of books and the upcoming movie. Rob Pattinson, though a bit dorky in interviews, most certainly channels the character of Edward just as perfectly as I've imagined him! We are looking forward to the movie's release in December!

Back in August, Stephenie Meyer was at a local Border's for a book signing. It was so cool for Katie to meet her and get to speak to her.

Steph liked Katie's shirt!

Got Mustard?

2008-06-06T22:12:00.004-05:00

Look what a wiener dog Phoenix is turning out to be! The cool thing is that when I first saw his picture (below), I had no idea that he had any dachschund in him. It's always been my dream to have a beagle and dachschund . . . and now I do!

School's out! While we enjoy the mild summer days before the full force humidity and heat hits, we've been spending lots of time in the sun room with the windows flung open and also much time out on the deck. Emily's been doing really well since the surgery. That nerve block was wonderful. She only had some minimal pain and is already off the pain pills.

Cast, Crutches - Take 2!

2008-06-03T14:39:00.002-05:00

Emily had outpatient foot surgery this morning. If you recall this, her broken foot turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It was discovered on the xrays that she had a noncancerous cyst in her right heel. The doctor called it, "like walking on eggshells," as the bone could have shattered if she would have jumped or come down on it firmly.

They made a two-inch incision on the right side of her heel, scraped out the cyst and filled it with cadaver bone graft material ("dead people bones!" Emily petulantly calls it!) Next week she goes for her cast which she'll wear for six weeks.

This picture was taken right before surgery. She has a phobia of needles. Shortly after this, the nice anesthesiologist okayed her going under the mask before the IV was inserted. She also had a nerve block, so she has no feeling in her leg. She's flying around the house on crutches like nothing right now. I have the Tylenol with codeine ready for when that block wears off!

Slacker Blogger!

2008-05-31T16:28:00.005-05:00

Doesn't it frustrate you when people have blogs and never, ever update them? You keep checking back, hoping for something new? Well, that would be me (bad, bad blogger!!)

Life has just thrown me for a loop. Since tax season ended a SECOND time, I just have been kind of frozen. Not to mention drowning in paper work. My mom's estate stuff....divorce stuff.....bills. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (Let's hope it's not a train! hee! hee!)

Thank you to my sister, Barb, who invited herself and her family over on Memorial Day which forced me to get my house company-ready. It wasn't very fun while I was scrubbing and dusting but it sure feels good now! Marty came over too so we had a nice, impromptu semi-family gathering.

I think the divorce stuff is finally winding down. Mike came over this past week to hash out the final details of the settlement. It can't be over with soon enough. The guy totally creeps me out now. It's like a really bad movie where a woman thinks she's marrying this wonderful guy. He fathers her two children, but after some time, his mask gets pulled off and it turns out he's really been this scary, alien monster all along. Ick. But the woman has to put on a smile and encourage the children to have a relationship with this alien who pretended to be a good dad. "Sorry honey, I know he's an alien, but he's still your father!"

Ooh. Did that sound too bitter? ;o)

Here are a few updates:

My niece, Aly, turned one year old this month. She's growing up way too fast! Here she is with her mom and dad.

Remember Marty's contest-winning doorhanger? Here it is. The cool thing is that his name is on the back, so he gets credit for it. If you stay at an Embassy Suites, be sure to look for it!

Okay, I lied! ;o)

2008-05-16T19:18:00.003-05:00

Apparently, I'm not back yet! The IRS decided to issue an extended due date on tax returns because of "severe storms and flooding" here in Missouri - yeah right, the flood waters came nowhere near us! Yet here I am again. It's like Ground Hog Day (or the week before April 15th) all over again. I'm working 12-hour days again. I never did recover from the first deadline. Sheesh!

More later when I return to real life (whatever that may be these days!)

Back at Last!

2008-04-23T20:29:00.002-05:00

Yay! I'm finally coming out of my post-tax season funk (I'm getting too old for those 80-hour weeks!) Many have asked, and yes, we have our new puppy! We adopted Phoenix from the Humane Society through his puppy foster mom, Donna. This little puppy is living up to his name because he has brought so much joy and healing to our family.

Shiloh and Emily meet Phoenix

Shiloh loves his new "brother!"

All the rules about "no dogs on my bed or on the furniture" just flew right out the window!

Phoenix thinks my hair is a chew toy!

Tax season went quickly, but unfortunately it's not over yet. Due to flooding in many counties of Missouri (including St. Louis County), the IRS has given everyone in those counties an extension until May 19th. This made for a slightly less chaotic last few days before April 15th, but only means we'll be working more hours before May 19th.

Katie's in Carlinville, Illinois this week with her high school for a competition-type event. She wasn't too excited about it, but it will be good experience for her. Next week Emily heads off to Potosi, Missouri (about 2 hours from here) for 6th grade camp. She's very excited about that!

Yesterday I bit the bullet and mowed the front and back yards. I haven't done yard work since I lived with my parents. What a great workout! I'm looking forward to planting flowers and making our outdoors a fun place to be (which it never really was before).

We have new neighbors from Samoa! Is that cool or what? The girls adore our doggies. It's nice to have a neighbor to hang over the fence with (all our other neighbors are mostly retirees). This evening they described their big yard with a mango tree back on the island. How cool would that be!?

Introducing.....

2008-04-08T07:31:00.004-05:00

....our soon-to-be new family member, Phoenix!!

He's a foster puppy that was rescued from recent flooding in southern Missouri. He'll be available next week. We have been talking about getting a second dog for some time. I had hoped to get a dachschund, but who could resist this little guy? (the one on the top here)

Katie, Emily, and I went through several names but the deal was we all three had to agree. Some of the names were Edward, Snuggles, Parmesan, Mocha. Katie took a survey on her favorite posting site, Megaglomp.

I thought it was interesting that the only name we all agreed on was Phoenix. No, not after the city, but the symbolism of the mythological bird arising from the ashes---> rebirth, a new beginning. This little puppy is symbolic of our new start.

Isn't he adorable? We'll pick him up on April 19th.

Hard to believe there's only one week left of tax season. It has FLOWN BY!!!

Open Road

2008-03-22T15:33:00.003-05:00

Seven months after our separation, Mike continues to be a disappointment as a father.

At one time I tried to MAKE him be a good husband. It didn't work.

I need to realize and accept that I cannot make him be a good father either. I need to accept him as what he's become and to release him from his role as my husband.

As a mother, I want the very best for my daughters. I now change direction, put it all in God's hands, and ask that He will send good, fatherly examples into the lives of Katie and Emily.

I see a road which was once blocked and congested now opening up before me. Freedom pours through the windows of my life.

Springtime is a new beginning. Wishing you all a very happy and blessed Easter!

Waving Hello!

2008-03-09T08:21:00.002-05:00

I worked a whoppin' 74 hours this past week, but feel great! (yeah, really, but ask me again in a couple weeks!). After 10 years of this, one tends to build up some stamina. Only 5 weeks left of tax season to go - woohoo!

For those of you who like contemporary Christian music, my co-worker and fellow church attender, Tim, sent me this cool link! Check it out!

My friend, Brenda, has invited me to attend a scrapbooking event here: Doesn't this look lovely? (even if you're not a scrapbooker) I don't think I'll get to go though as it's the weekend right after tax season ends. Katie and Emily aren't ready for me to leave them for three nights yet. A lot of people have volunteered to stay with them (they're not ready to stay with their dad yet), but they will need some "mom time" after all these crazy hours I'll be working!

Katie got a new webcam this week, and we've been having so much fun with it. We recorded a video for here, but apparently it's too large to upload. Emily's quite the actress and has come up with some hilarious skits which I hope I can somehow get on here. Otherwise we'll have to post them to Youtube!

I like this funky feature - it hides all the imperfections and makes me look thinner and younger! ;o)

Have a great week!

A Glimpse of Tax Season

2008-02-26T07:07:00.002-06:00

Here are some pics from the end of last tax season! My friend, Bina, was the department photographer until she moved to Chicago. Her work finished before ours so she had time to take pictures of us stressing out at the last minute!

What STRESSED looks like! Working 80+ hours a week, constantly on the phone answering questions from our temporary assemblers, and waving a giant stapler at partners who get on my nerves (unfortunately no pictures of that!) in between doing my regular work!

Seven Weeks and Counting. . .

2008-02-24T06:41:00.004-06:00

Seven weeks from this Tuesday is April 15th! woohoo! For those new to this blog, I work as a tax return assembler at this accounting firm. Unfortunately it will be a lonnnng seven weeks as we've just now started getting busy. I put in 58 hours this week, but it will get worse. I'm taking it one day at a time, especially with being a single mom this time.

My universal card reader is shot, so no pictures for awhile. Yikes :o( Especially since there is little time for shopping.

Emily had her cast removed this past week! Yay! She's in a removable walking boot that she wears outside the house. It will be so nice to have her ride the bus to school once again. She'll go back in three weeks for her final xrays and to be "set free" as the doctor calls it!

The divorce proceedings are going way too slow since the Stranger Who Used to Be My Husband seems to think he's entitled to a lot despite all his "misconduct" over the years. His latest quote is, "But they were only one-night stands!" Did I mention he had TEN of them in three years? Did I also mention that he's STILL with the (unmentionable name) who contributed to the final breakup of our marriage? Yes, they just celebrated their one-year anniversary this month. While I was working all those long tax-season hours last year, Mike was leaving our girls at home alone, out galavanting with her (when she wasn't with her other lovers--no joke).

Ah well, life is stranger than fiction at times, isn't it? I'm focusing on what's ahead because things can only get better!

My brother, the contest winner!

2008-02-15T22:24:00.004-06:00

A few months ago, Marty told me about this online contest where you had to come up with a creative slogan for a "do not disturb" sign for Embassy Suites. I couldn't get the website to work, so I forgot about it. He recently found out he was one of five lucky winners! They picked his slogan (above!) and now his DND sign will hang in Embassy Suites around the country and world! How cool is that? And he's heading for Waikiki on spring break to collect his prize: three nights at the Embassy Suites Waikiki. Woohoo! WTG, Mawdy!! I'm proud of you!

Here's the press release:

“Shh! I’m hatching a plan to bust some little soaps out of here.”

This is how Embassy suites’ guests say “Do NOT disturb”
Winning Signs to Be Hung on Doorknobs Nationwide

Memphis, TN (February 15, 2008) – Today Embassy Suites Hotels announces the five winning slogans of the Do Not Disturb contest. These guest-designed door hangers will be displayed in all of the hotel brand’s nearly 200 properties starting March 5th and each winner will receive a three-night stay at select Embassy Suites destinations.

“It was so much fun to be able to create something that will actually appear in hotels all over the country,” said Marty Mintman from St. Louis, Missouri, the winner of the stay at Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk (Honolulu, HI). Marty won with the slogan “Shh! I’m hatching a plan to bust some little soaps out of here.”

The five winners have been awarded a three -night stay at select Embassy Suites locations. The winning signs can be viewed at http://www.embassysuitesdndcontest.com/winners. In addition to Marty, the other grand prize winners are:

“Pillow Fight In Progress.”– Susan Suarez, University City, MO - LaQuinta Resort & Spa (LaQuinta, CA)

“There are days when I wish I could wear this around my neck” Sandra Parcher, Milpitas, CA - The Embassy Suites New York (New York City)

“I’ve built a pillow fort and I am not opening the door for anybody!” Amy Forgette, Streamwood, IL -The Embassy Suites Mexico City Reforma (Mexico City, D.F. Mexico)

“Aww, Mom. Just five more minutes. Please?” Brian White, Chicago, IL - The Embassy Suites Washington D.C. Convention Center (Washington, D.C.)

The contest, which ran online at EmbassySuites.com from August 27th – October 31st , 2007 was judged by John Lee, Vice President of Brand Marketing and Communications at Embassy Suites; Eric Melkent from Embassy Suites advertising agency Carpenter Sullivan Sossaman (CS2); and Jody Smith, Mike McGilligan and Sayed Hassan, general managers at the Austin Embassy Suites, La Jolla Embassy Suites and Chicago Embassy Suites hotels, respectively. Guests chose from online designs, images and templates to customize their very own Do Not Disturb design and slogan. Judges were specifically looking for the cleverest and most original Embassy Suites Do Not Disturb signs.

“It was so refreshing to hear the guests’ ideas,” said Jody Smith. “We sifted through more than 7,100 entries and tried to choose winners that had slogans that fit with Embassy’s playful brand personality. The response was overwhelming.”

To see the winning signs, please log onto http://www.embassysuitesdndcontest.com/winners.

Celebrate!

2008-02-11T05:41:00.001-06:00

For Christmas, Unc got all of us Dave & Buster's gift cards so that we could celebrate the January/February birthdays there. It was a rushed day for us as we were busy with church stuff, but it was nice to get together with family nevertheless. We had not all been together since Christmas. I'm not a big fan of D&B's. Everytime I've been there it's either been for a work meeting or to herd around a bunch of birthday kids. It was nice to sit and relax. (Missing from the pics are Brad, Melanie and Aaron who were off in gameland during the photo ops!)

Barb and Marty

Jeneane and Chris (Baby Aly stayed home to watch something on TV, according to Chris!)

Unc and Gram

Katie and Emily

Footprints in the Snow

2008-02-03T22:41:00.000-06:00

(I bet you were expecting some creatively mushy poem I wrote, huh?)

I looked out on the deck yesterday and saw this:

Hmm...I wonder which flatfooted daughter went barefoot in the snow! Easy to guess since the other daughter has a cast on her foot!

Katie's comments on her spontaneous walk across the snowy deck:

"It was really cold."

;o)

Invisible Moms

2008-01-29T09:52:00.001-06:00

A friend sent this to me in an email. The author is unknown, but I could certainly relate to it, so wanted to share it here.

To the "invisible" moms of the world…
===================================================
I'm Invisible

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

"The Invisible Mom."

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, What time is it? I'm a satellite guide to answer, What number is the Disney Channel? I'm a car to order, Right around 5:30, please.

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, and she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read--no, devour--the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied,
"Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've
baked, is too small for Me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The author of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand-bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his
friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there!"

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not
protect you.

The Neverending Story

2008-01-28T21:27:00.000-06:00

I've been writing for as long as I can remember. My goal is not to be published but to figure out who I am and see how I have grown and changed. My hope is that my daughters or anyone else who stumbles across my journals long after I'm gone will perhaps learn something too.

Every good writer loves to read as well! I've been reading Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, at Katie's suggestion. I love these books! I'm just finding it difficult to make time to read even though I'm at a really good part in New Moon (the second in the series). To all those Twilight fans out there:

EDWARD ROCKS!!!!

What Could Happen When You "Skip Bigly"

2008-01-23T10:08:00.000-06:00

On Monday night, the girls and I decided to see a movie. We chose "National Treasure." It was near the end when Em ran out to use the restroom. She came hobbling back in tears. She told me she had tripped and fell on the way back. Her foot began swelling immediately so we left early. (I guess we'll have to wait and see the ending on DVD!)

After piggy-backing her through the mall, we went directly to the hospital where thankfully they took her right in. The x-rays showed three broken bones on the top of her foot. The ER doctor on duty said injuries like this usually occur when someone drops a heavy object on their foot or when they jump or fall from a great height and land on their toes. After some interrogation, Emily sheepishly confessed to "running and skipping bigly" on the way back to the theatre! Aha! Apparently her foot twisted and she landed on her toes, rolling her foot forward, causing the fractures.

They set up her with a temporary cast until the permanent one could be put on yesterday morning. Thankfully no bones had to be reset! She's having some pain and swelling so she's home from school a second day in a row. Tomorrow she'll be back to school with the challenge of making her way around on crutches (She can't put any weight on the foot for two weeks).

Back home after the emergency room visit late Monday/early Tuesday with her temporary splint, applying an ice pack. Em was a great sport and so brave! She was more concerned that she might have to get a shot than having broken bones! Here she is good spirits. The real pain won't start until the next day (gotta love that Tylenol with codeine!)

Dressed and ready to head to the orthopedic doctor for the cast.

The hot pink cast! (You thought it would be any other color?!)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

2008-01-15T19:47:00.000-06:00

My friend, Kristen, commented tonight that my house doesn't seem like a home that consists of a mom and two daughters, but more like a place with three girls living there. That's the way it's been lately: dirty dishes in the sink, clean clothes piled up in laundry baskets, tubs of Christmas decorations still waiting to be put in storage, and loud music blaring!

My busy work hours will be here soon enough so in the mean time we are going to have fun! Life is too short to stress out over a messy house. My girls are going to be grown and gone before I know it, so I want to relish every moment! We're on the run more than we are at home and when we're at home, it's time to relax and destress.

Now that my room is finished, I feel like a teenager again in a way. After all, it's been that long since I've had my own room (and even then it was temporary--my sisters and I alternated having our own room). I'm spending a lot of time catching up on my journal writing, reading, praying, planning my future, and sometimes just daydreaming--guilt free! (It's a beautiful thing.)

This is the print I bought for my room. I love pink roses! Pale pink roses connote grace, gentleness, and gratitude.

Here's a view of my dresser. Barb bought me those cool inspirational plates for Christmas. The cute snowman is from Kristen. The gold candle sconces were a gift from a partner at work, and the candles I bought at World Market. They have funky aromas that remind me of Bangladesh!

This cute monkey sits astride my bargain floor lamp. He's a reminder of my future travels. The stars behind him symbolize dreams. (I never realized until I typed this how much symbolism is in my life these days!)

Enough fun for now, time to be a grownup for a short time and pay the bills or do dishes or something!

New Inspirations

2008-01-10T21:31:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling newly inspired lately. In music, in art, in the world all around. I discovered this artist. I love her work. I ordered her print called "Within Reach" - It's so me! I've had this thing for stars lately.

Tonight my friend, Linda, and her daughter Theresa, treated Katie, Emily, and me to a night at the St. Louis Symphony. Tonight's highlight was Scottish music. It was so beautiful. In the past, I never appreciated this style of music, but my life is changing so quickly now, so much is opening up to me.

My last free Saturday for awhile :o(

2008-01-05T16:03:00.000-06:00

Yuck. It's tax season once again. Normally I would be working this first Saturday of the new season, but things were pretty slow. I intended to get so much done today, like...um...take down the Christmas decorations, clean the basement, clean out the garage so I have room for the Christmas tree which I refuse to dismantle, etc., etc., etc.

So I got a few necessary things done but decided to enjoy my last Saturday off until late April.

Sigh.

It's going to be a challenge working all those hours with the girls home alone, but they're old enough now to handle it. I just hate being away from them for so long. We've already had a meeting about teamwork. Katie said, "Mom, it's not that big of a deal. Dad was never here last tax season anyway." (sneaking out of the house all the time to meet his girlfriend while I worked up to 80+ hours a week---but don't get me started!)

I'll just take another deep breath and take one day at a time like I always do!

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T23:37:00.000-06:00

Wishing you all the best in 2008! I know this year is going to be so much better than the last (in fact, much better than my last ten years have been) A time of new beginnings!

Andrea Bocelli - Laura Pausini duet

2007-12-29T22:20:00.001-06:00

Andrea Bocelli - Laura Pausini duet

2007-12-29T22:08:00.001-06:00

Speaking of new things in my life.....this is the new style of music that I love! My mom was a fan of Bocelli, but I was never interested in it until now. I love this duet. I love when Andrea falls to his knees and takes Laura's hand! They have such a chemistry together. Don't you love that salt-and-pepper hair? Did I mention this guy is ITALIAN? Did I also mention he sings more like an angel than Josh does? (sigh!)

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T17:14:00.000-06:00

'Tis the season.......to be busy! We started out Christmas Eve with the annual Opening of the Pajamas for Katie and Emily (not a planned tradition--it's just happened that way over the years!)

Christmas Eve night we go to Barb and Brad's for the traditional turkey dinner and Rob Your Neighbor game (the highlight of the evening!) Before dinner, we had to, of course, have a little nativity scene fun. Note how the shepherds, wise men, sheep, and angels are mingling and networking. This is the scene you don't see every day! ;o)

Lauren and 98-year-old Gram visit before dinner.

Barb and her sister-in-law, Lauren (not to be confused with our Lauren!) make preparations.

Christmas morning started with gift opening! Then getting ready for the family to come over for breakfast and gift exchange.

Baby Aly was the star of the day as you can see!

"Aunt Mary Jo is my favorite!" - Aly (hee! hee!)

Cousins!

The traditional Mintman sibs picture (just like when we were kids....do you think we might all look at the camera and smile at the same time?!)

Christmas Angels

2007-12-24T13:56:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!

Katie and Emily show off their new shirts from Diana. Thanks, Diana!

Katie baked a birthday cake for her friend, Chris, in Texas, took these pictures and then emailed them. The modern way of sending birthday wishes to friends far off!