Halloween, a chance to be myself

Rich and I went to a Halloween party last night, being a little more money and comfort conscience these days, we looked in our closets to see what we could come up. For me it was fun to pull some clothes together that I already own but don't get a chance to wear them all together often or at all. It was so much fun and I felt so ME to be able to put my ensemble together. I resembled more of a free spirit, earthy person. Rich found a flannel shirt, an old white tank top of Zack's, a pair of blue jeans, a knit hat and an axe as his accessory. He was my lumber jack! I just felt good in my outfit, I will be wearing it again. So I was saving the Trees and he was cutting them down. We are a good pair!

Happy Halloween.
Peace & Love

Live Inspired

Yesterday I mentioned a book I was reading from Compendium Incorporated. I encourage you to check out their site HERE and specifically about the The Five Book, click HERE. They have beautiful and inspiring books, cards, journals, and more. The Inspired Community Blog Collection gives me a dose of inspiration and energy in my daily reads! Enjoy!

Peace & Love

Save My Sunshine Blog Button

I made my blog button tonight. I don't think I'm done with it yet, but it is a start. I found directions on how to make it on two different sites. Go HERE for directions from Real Life Design.
Take a look at mine on the right hand side of the page beneath my "No Boundries" poem.



Then I also used the code provided from Simply Fabulous Tutorials found HERE.

Check back to see what I come with for my button.

Good night, Peace & Love

The Simple Woman's Daybook

This idea is from the The Simple Woman Daybook, I saw this on my cousin's Madison blog HERE.

FOR TODAY - Thursday October 29th, 2009

Outside my window... View of a beautiful lake and trees
I am thinking...I need to complete my to do list
I am thankful for...Rich, Bekah and Zack, my family
From the kitchen...it is Chinese food tonight
I am wearing...a brown dress and boots
I am creating...a senior album for Bekah
I am going...to walk in a 5K on Saturday with Bekah's cheer team for Breast Cancer Awareness
I am reading...What will I be doing in 5 years Compendium
I am hoping...& praying my sister finds the strength to face that she has cancer and fight to beat it.
I am hearing...a train
Around the house...it's a bit messy
One of my favorite things...is taking pictures
A few plans for the rest of the week: Craving a pumpkin, Cancer Walk, visiting my mom
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...I saw this green fire hydrant and just loved the color!



Something simple for today. I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend. Saturday we are doing the Breast Cancer Walk, then I think I will just hang at home, get some things done and reflect and relax.

Peace & Love

Wonderful weekend, sleep deprived week

Coming off a wonderful weekend of adventure, I have to admit I'm having an off week. (So far, isn't over... and I hope by writing this down, I will have the energy to re-direct it)

I'm struggling this week to actually get out of bed and being productive. My thoughts are stay in bed and sleep, all day would be fine. I have resisted that urge, I'm up.

Maybe it is all the stuff running through my head this week and the lack of sleep it is causing. I'm thinking about my sister diagnosed with Stage 2 liver cancer and not knowing any details. Thinking about what she must be going through right now. I like to take control of things and the waiting and not seeing her is very difficult. What is the diagnoses long term? Is there a "long term?" What is going to happen to her children? Will she need me to become a guardian of her daughter? Can she beat this? What does that mean for us, for Rich, for Bekah? Thinking about my mom. Thinking about my niece and nephew. So much to think about.

Then there are thoughts about my children, my job as a parent. Protecting our children, that is our number one goal as a parent. We want to protect them not only from the harmful people in our world, but also from making those bad choices, from seeing them get hurt. We are their advocate. But I know making bad choices, learning from them is all part of growing up, life. Sometimes life sucks. There, I said it. It just sucks. We make a bad decision and can't take it back. Treated unfairly and as much protesting and noise we make, it happens anyway. Sometimes I just want to wrap my arms around my children and not let anything get inside. When they are hurt, I hurt.

...and personal goals, I seem to be neglecting. I have fallen behind in my unravelling class, I need to catch up this week. I want to start my site, I need to figure out what I am going to put on it and how I will drive revenue there. Need to plan. How can I keep that creative side of me fed? I need to stay awake here. These are all things going through my head causing sleep deprivation.

So, this morning, I opened my new book "Where will you be in five years from today?" -Compendium- I just started flipping through it. I wasn't sure if this was the inspiration I needed right now, but I would give it a try. It is very hard to know or plan when there are so many unknowns, like with my sister. But after perusing it, I need to start using it, writing down my goals, my values, my mission. Even with the unknown, whatever God has planned for me, for us... knowing my personal direction a little bit more clearly is a good thing and it will all come together in the end.

I stopped on one page that said "When was the last time you did something for the first time?" I love love love this question. What a great question to help unlock that creative being inside. I don't even know if this question even goes along with what I have been writing about, I don't even care.
It made me stop and think. It made me want to be awake today.

"When was the LAST time you did something for the FIRST time?"

Peace & Love

P.S. The pumpkin carving was not last night as I previously posted. It will take place sometime over the next couple of days. I know you are on the edge of your seat for this one!

a Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

This morning, Rich said "Why don't we go get a pumpkin tonight." Sounded like a great idea. Bekah has been a little down, having a rough spot in school, activity is good. I got home from work and we had Halloween decorations out! Yeah! I was so excited. Rich put some Halloween decorations outside and inside. I was ready to get our pumpkin. We went to a local church pumpkin patch, it was so sweet seeing the little ones picking out their pumpkins. Bekah made the comment she was the only "big person" there... I corrected her with, "No, there are three of us!" But really there were a bunch of young adults looking for their own pumpkins. Of course I took my camera. Bekah wasn't really in the mood and I thought I would cheer her up. It took a little work. She was allowing me to take pictures, but she wasn't happy with any of them. I snapped away... I got her to come around. I'm glad she can find the humor in her dad and I acting silly. Life is so much easier that way. So Bekah found the perfect pumpkin, Bekah affectionately named Gilbert. Bekah also found Gilbert a friend and at this moment, I don't recall the name given to the friend pumpkin, it sounded very similar to Gilbert. Tomorrow night will be pumpkin carving night.

A weekend of LIVING

If you read my blog, you may have noticed that I talk a lot about LIVING! We have had some hurdles this year, some ups and downs. I focus on the positive. A LOT. I talk about how we need to live our lives to the fullest and we practice this as a family ...most of that time. We have done some living this year, that is for sure. This past weekend, our niece got married in Searcy, Arkansas. We were first going to drive the 16 hours or so from Orlando to Searcy. Leaving on a Thursday or Friday and returning on the Sunday following. The more we thought about it, the more we realized this would be too much driving, too stressful. Now, I had planned on creating a photo scavenger hunt for our drive and would have come up with other activities had we made that trek, but we all were dreading it to be perfectly honest. So, we decided to spend the money, be relaxed and enjoy our visit. We absolutely made the right decision. We had a blast in Memphis, we enjoyed the wedding in Searcy and returned to Memphis for our flight home. It was a fantastic weekend of living!

1. Bekah & Rich Rendezvous for Ribs 2. Bekah & Kim at Sun Studio
3. In the Graceland Tour parking lot, a change of clothes
4. Strolling at River Art Fest 5. Beignets 6. Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken 7. View from the plane 8. Lorraine Motel, assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King 9. Beignet Cafe 10. Gus's Fried Chicken 11. Bekah & Kim in front of the Graceland Gates

On Saturday we drove from Memphis, TN to Searcy, AR. We had the pleasure of attending our niece's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding, full of laughter and joy. It was wonderful to see her, meet her new husband and also to see our nephew who gave the bride away. A wonderful weekend of living.

So excited, pictures from Lcpl Zack Mills

Zack is on the right side when looking at this photo. Has the General Mills "G" on the back of his crainal. (Learning the lingo)



I got so excited today when Rich told me he got some pictures from Zack (our son). Whoo-hoo! You have to understand, Zack doesn't "do" pictures very often and when he does they are usually via camera phone. So when I saw these pictures they brought a BIG smile to my face. I do wish I could see his face, his smile but I'll take what I can get and not complain, I LOVE THEM. These are awesome pictures. Great shots of Zack at work. His location is unknown, somewhere in the ocean on the USS Bon-Homme Richard running ordnance with the Harriers.
Semper Fi

Jump a Train

Have you ever thought about jumping a train just to see where it takes you? I've been taking notice of the trains and their sounds more so in recent weeks wondering where are they going? Not sure if it is because of my Unravelling course (I seem to be noticing more things in my everyday life) or because I now cross railroad tracks daily to get to my office. In Florida, the majority of the trains are freight trains, however, we do have the Amtrak passenger train that travels through Orlando and Winter Park in my area. I love the train sounds, the sound of the whistle blowing, the sound of the train going down the tracks, the ringing of the bells... I especially enjoy the whistle at night when laying in bed.
For vacation one year (sadly I can't recall the exact year possibly 2002) the four of us took the Amtrack train from Winter Park,FL to Savannah, GA. It was the first time my children and I had ever been on a train. Rich had traveled by train before. If you are not in a hurry and you want to relax it is the way to go. We had fun in the dinner car, walked around to stretch our legs and enjoyed not having to drive ourselves. It was a new adventure. I would definitely go back to Savannah by train again.
Here's a picture of a train I took moving along the tracks, we were having dinner with friends at PR's Taco Palace and walked outside to catch the train. The train tracks go in front and right beside the restaurant.
Take a look at this speed, I don't think I would jump this one but I do wonder where it is going, where it will end up. Hope somewhere fun.

Hope everyone enjoys the week, listen for the trains.

Peace & Love

Hand me the hairspray

I love the way this photo turned out, so much activity going on... just like the day, the week, the month. Our lives! Staying busy and enjoying every minute of it. Life is too short to not live it to it's fullest.

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” Ashley Smith

Peace & Love

Old Meets New Hollywood

Bekah looks amazing getting ready for her Senior Homecoming Dance. The theme this year is Old Meets New Hollywood. Doesn't she look glamourous? Love her smile! Hair and make-up by our good friend Robert Showalter.

Waiting & The News

I can't begin to imagine what my sister is going through... waiting. Ginger is waiting to go back to the doctors on October 20th for the results of a biopsy on her liver and intestines. Suspected cancer cells were seen during an MRI and CT scan. She is a single mother of two precious little ones and she lives far from family in Kentucky. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

This picture if of my sister and I at Walt Disney World in Florida. Unfortunatly, I don't know the year.

Peace & Love

***************************************************

Ginger has not been able to talk about it, she did go back to the doctor early and apparently on her own. She does have Cancer. We don't know what stage. We don't have many details. The cancer on her intestines can be treated with a laser. However, for the cancer on her liver the doctors are recommending chemotheraphy. My sister has a 5year old and a 4 year old. Is single, without health insurance and works around the clock to pay the bills and take care of her children. My mother is going up to Kentucky ASAP to help Ginger with the decisions she is facing. Please pray.

Robert, I love him!

My awesomest, caringest, loveliest friend Robert is unbelievable! I know I made a couple of those words up, but you get the idea. He is AWESOME, loving, caring, just a wonderful human being. I love him. He has been such a special person in my life and daughter's life. He is Uncle Robert to her and she adores him. They are special to each other, I couldn't ask for someone better to be in my daughter's life, a friend, a guide, a confidant. Robert has been watching over Bekah since she was born, loving her and ALWAYS making sure she was the best dressed girl at the party, that's for sure. Thank you Robert for everything you do and how special you are to all of us. Thank you both Ron and Robert for always being there for us and being such special friends, we love you! I can't believe this is our last homecoming dance with Bekah? At least there is Sweetheart and Prom to go in 2010, I'll stop at that. Love you!

It's All About Me

Good morning Earth!
I am LOVING my unravelling class... just love it! Love the people, the projects and the writing though I'm terribly behind in my writing. What I am finding already by week three is that I am looking at things with a different perspective, look I even posted a picture of just me. I always saw myself as a free-spirited person but I wasn't really allowing myself to live that way all the time. Maybe to others I am a free spirit, loving life and having fun but to me it is not enough, I want more. I need to be that way all of the time not just when I'm with friends I've known forever or goofing around with my children and husband. I am finding that I have too much guilt and worry for other people, things or situations that I shouldn't have. No one is putting that on me, I am putting that on me. I need to stop it and think about me, releasing all that nonsense to enjoy every moment as it comes. Appreciating the art, the beauty and gifts I have all around me everyday. This doesn't mean I stop caring for people in my life and even those that aren't present in my world today, it just means that I don't worry about everything they may be thinking, do or say. They are my tribe and if I do something that isn't "perfect" or don't agree with they should love me anyway right? That's what true friendship and family is about, loving unconditionally. Why in the world do I worry about everyone else, making sure they are happy, having fun, think I'm worth something? Shouldn't my tribe love me for who I am? I know I'm rambling a bit, but this is what is on my mind this morning. I always have this desire to make sure EVERYONE is happy. Even Zack has warned me about this, my wise, to the point child... "Mom, you don't have to fix everything" he has told me, "I'm okay." I don't like it when something upsets my children or anyone in my tribe so I "worry" and ponder how to make everything right.

Here is my promise to me:
- I am going to try really really hard to let the world, the events in my life unfold as they happen and be content with them however they happen. I must note an exception, if anything just happens that is harmful to those I love, all bets are off.

- I am going to immerse myself into the things I love, my art, my music, my tribe and live my life surrounded by their beauty.

- I am going to take care of my soul and continue to nourish it with art, readings, wonderful people, music and love.

- I will always take care of others and I do want people to be happy, that is who I am. But what I will stop doing is sacrificing my own happiness when I am around people that I feel the need to "shift" who I am whether it is because of my own insecurities or what I perceive them to believe about me. (This is going to be a hard one) People that I have known forever and I find myself worrying about the way I look, what I say and all sorts of things when I'm around them.. to the point I don't even want to be there and this is part of my tribe. I am going to be me... just me in my work, when I play, when I love, just me.

- I am going to stop worrying about what other people think. Ooh, tough one.

The coolest thing about the unravelling experience is that my husband who is my best friend and my children have a clear vision of who I am, I love their vision, I just didn't see it in myself... I'm starting to.

Peace & Love

This Time of Year

...there is so much is going on! Wow... so busy. Busy week at work last week, too. First, the business is going well...Thank you again for the support of friends and loved ones as we continue on this journey.

....And it's HOMECOMING week! A very busy time of year. Rich enlisted the help of his brother to build the homecoming float foundation, a cooler of beer and a pizza later the float was ready to be decorated! I make it sound fast and easy and they are so awesome they make it seem that way... it was not! They worked into the night and boy was it hot!

Many of the cheerleaders came over to the house yesterday and we painted, and painted, and painted... it was fabulous! So many artists! Great day. We got so much done.

Then last night, we went to the College Park Jazz Fest with a great group of friends. We battled the elements (Humidity, a little rain, lightening and thunder) to have a fun time with friends, good food and drink.

We are relaxing today! Getting ready to go for a bike ride (Harley) to Sanford to see what is going on with the Biketoberfest, have lunch and catch the Steeler game.

Thursday is the Homecoming Parade, Friday night the Homecoming Game and Saturday is the Homecoming dance... here we go!

Hope everyone is having an awesome weekend!

Embracing Football Season

It took awhile, most of our marriage but I've finally done it... embraced football season with open arms! For years I just wasn't into it, always had "my" teams to cheer for but really could take it or leave it and at times admittedly a little annoyed with it. Well, I have come to see the light and I am really loving it (Football, that is!) I started loving it the season I got my Troy Polamalo Jersey, then last year Rich, Bekah and I started going to sports bars together to watch the games. That is so much fun, eating good comfort food, having a cold beer (or Margarita in my case) and cheering on our team with other fans! It's awesome! Some sports bars are better than others, we like the Steeler supporting ones. It is just fun to make an event of it, even if there are not big crowds of people. It is fun to put on the Jersey go out and support our team! If we don't go out, it is still fun family time to sit together and watch the game from the comfort of our living room.
I have come to enjoy and appreciate football season and the family bond it creates. I encourage anyone still holding out to give it a try, you might like it.

Go Steelers!