Lesson of following the right road

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13

Not realizing our intended path in life sometimes prevents us from fully living in the present moment. I believe we all have a purpose in being here and I do think it is more than just being a mom- or a parent in general. Although, I have to say that God did intend for me to be a mother. I think most of the time I really take the time I have for granted because every day seems to last forever, yet the weeks and years pass by so quickly. Sometimes we do not see the paths we are crossing or the turns we are making because we are allowing life to pass us by. If we do not take the right path then the end could not turn out as well as we hoped, instead of a ‘detour’ we will get a dead end and not have the chance to find ourselves the right path.

 I know that I only have a short while with my children and then they are going to be my age; driving me to some out of state airport after my weekend visit with them. They will be having boyfriends and girlfriends and hiding secrets from me. They will no longer want me to read them a book to bed at night and I won’t get asked if I can give them another kiss. I won’t be able to walk them to the bus stop or bring them lunch at school. I won’t get the smile on their face when they see me surprise them at school or when they had a long day. They will still love me, but not the same way they do now. In their eyes, I am perfect (most of the time) and I don’t want that to end. I enjoy being their number one person they look up to, I enjoy every moment of their love. I know It will definitely go by faster than I think.

Parents serve such a great purpose in our lives and sometimes it’s not only our biological parents that play an important role, but also step parents. They are there to provide a much different emotional support system than our parents do. I think by simply not having the biological connection it allows them to nurture us in different ways. Becoming a parent was one of the happiest moments in my life, I remember every feeling and I remember every moment with my daughter (and my son as well). I hope to be able to feel those same emotions again one day when I hopefully have the opportunity to have another child.

We need to be sure that we are making most of the moments we have in life and we need to make sure that we are being observant. God made the road to him more complicated because he wanted people to reach out and intend to follow Him. If he made it easy than everyone would do it, but it’s not. It is harder to say that you follow God because most seemed ashamed with it today. I may not have all the answers, I may not understand a lot, but I do know that if God wanted me to know everything then maybe I would not want to believe. He keeps me wanting more and asking more.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and my hope is in your all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me for you, Lord, are good. Psalm 25: 4-7

A New

I feel so out of place,

Even in my own skin.

There’s no place to turn,

Nowhere to even begin.

Deep within the roots,

A crawling, burning pain.

Tingling my entire body,

Driving  me insane.

When it feels like the world,

Stands at your back.

The people you thought you knew,

Aren’t on the same track.

Realizing that you are all you have,

I find the strength within.

To push the pain away,

In order to find my own place to begin.

Lesson on Judging

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2

We live in a world where we judge a book (or person) based on the cover that we see. It is unfortunate that we have to be skin and bones to be considered beautiful. It is unfortunate that we have to drive  nice cars and wear nice clothing in order to be considered ‘worth someone’s time,’ it is unfortunate that we must act in a certain way in order to have the opportunity for some jobs.

“Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Matthew 15: 10-11 The world seems to care less about what someone says, although this is the true test of who we are. It does not matter what happens around us or the things that are beyond our control, the one thing we are able to control are our tongues.

“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” Proverbs 11:22 The outside beauty of someone only lasts for so long, whether it is age or time with that person that makes the attractiveness disappear the only thing left is what you have inside. 

Our characters as people are not seen as often as our outer looks, of course everyone wants to be seen as ‘beautiful.’ Beauty has been linked to better perceptions, higher chances of getting a job, and having an overall more successful life. But what if it is confidence and not beauty? There is a woman who I have always thought was beautiful and she is not the typical person you would think of- it is Beth Chapman, Dog the Bounty Hunter’s wife. The way she exudes herself makes her beautiful, it is her confidence that allows you to see inside her soul and not just inside her shirt. I would rather have a good character than a good body. I would rather know that I lived my life successfully being the person I needed to be, having the traits that were desirable, not having the body or the legs that were desirable. There are some people in this world who feel that all there is to life is to look good or to look a certain way. God does not judge us based on how we have maintained our hygiene, he bases his judgments on how we have maintained our life. Can you look back and say that you have put more focus in being a better person? I know I cannot. However, we all have the opportunity to change. No one knows the day the world will end, but when it comes it will be swift. God will not leave much time for people to make a final choice on how they will life. There will be one that goes and one that stays, hopefully it is not too late for you to change your life around. The lesson of today is:

            “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the stream rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had it’s foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mind and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7: 24-27

How strong is your foundation that you have built? Is it strong enough to withstand any outside pressure or criticism? How strong are you? Are you able to withstand anything with God by your side? Think about the life you are living, think about the judgments you are making before you sit and make them, think about what you do before you do it. Do not condemn others before God has decided to judge. Everyone who does not choose the righteous path will be punished- in due time. For now, we should live our life trying to be accepting of other people and their choices, even when it can be the most difficult test of our character. 

Lesson of the Day

“The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9: 10

Some of the smartest choices in life are the hardest ones to make. It is often harder to think before speaking than to think after speaking.

“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spread slander is a fool. Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” Proverbs 10:18-19

Recently for class I had to read the Book of Proverbs, now I took a new testament class and actually enjoyed it more than I thought, I also learned a lot more. Not to say that I still do not have questions or doubts, but I know that everyone does. Reading the old testament is not something I prefer, but I did enjoy this book. I am not sure why I thought this particular verse was an important one to remember, but I know that I am not perfect. I know that I say and do things that sometimes I probably should not, however it is very hard to not want to speak my mind. Opinions are merely thoughts that probably do not need to be said most of the time. Just because we speak untruths about someone or have an enumerated amount of ‘hate’ or disgust does not mean that it is going to benefit us if we speak these words. Holding our tongue is one of the greatest learning lessons of life. We do not need to bring someone else down just because we become unhappy with who we are, we need to bolster ourselves by becoming closer to God. At times when you feel as though you are alone, sometimes becoming closer to God is what is needed and wanted, have you ever thought that God knew that you would be weak and alone in those futile moments, he intended for it, so you would ask Him for help.

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Proverbs 10:12 What happens when we hate something or someone? Does anything good ever come from that? We feel awful because we constantly remind ourselves why we have this hate and disgust which makes our attitude negative. This in turn makes those around us negative as well. It makes God unhappy with who we are because of the way we are behaving. Have we not learned anything? Hatred does nothing for no one. Obviously I am not one to speak about this, but I am trying to learn about this. I know that I have filled myself with hate because it felt like the only thing to do at the time. Love can cover anything, if we fill ourselves with love it is amazing what can come from that. One question is if we have ‘tormented’ those around us because of the hate we let fill our bodies, the negative attitude that filtered outward, is it possible for the love to return between two people? This may sound confusing, but there are times when we have been negative and people have not wanted to be around us anymore, losing the love they once had for us, is that love able to be fixed if only one party changes? I would like to think that Love for anyone can change everything. If we choose to be filled with love then I think that love would filter more so than the hate did. Like a smile being contagious I think spreading love would be contagious as well. Who doesn’t love to be loved, cuddled, hugged? We all love to feel this.

“Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.” Proverbs 11:21

I have been wanting to get into a bible class somewhere because I think I have a lot I would want to discuss and talk to with people, but unfortunately I have not been able to get the opportunity to start going to one. I want to learn more about the bible and I want to learn more about following in the footsteps of someone who did no wrong. I know that I could never live the same way, but I can definitely try to model my life after Him and then hope that my children would follow in my footsteps as well. I want to be filled with love and not hate, I want to know that I am not wicked so that I may go free. I only have one life and I know the things that I need to do. So I guess the bible lesson of the day is: instead of filling your mind with negative thoughts, think of something positive and change your mind. Tell yourself where you want it to go, do not let your mind decide how you are going to feel.

You Can Be Anything You Want To Be!

I would give anything some days to be three again, but then again I am twenty-five and every once and a while I get to pretend that I am three.

I get to be a ghost hunter squirting all the ghosts, trying to capture them, with my jelly gun. I get to be a construction worker and build houses, fix screens and bikes, and hammer and weld things together. I get to be a dancer and singer and run around the house, but I don’t have to worry about someone not buying my music or dances because the one person who matters doesn’t care how bad I am at singing and dancing. I get to be a patient who is badly injured in need of a doctor who can help. I can always be a Dr.: Dr. Wabob at your service J I can fix anything that you need me to and I assure you that it will turn out okay. I can climb on the playground and swing on the swingset. I can be a scuba diver and go down the water slides and collect all the dive rings at the bottom of the pool. I  can be a chef and whip you up something good with just the bark and leaves from outside.

My son teaches me a lot about myself and all the things I really can do. I hope that I am able to open up his eyes as well when I let him imagination run wild. I watch him with pure fascination because I am amazed at what he is able to make-up and what he is able to remember. He really does make me the best person I can be.

The most important part of getting to be anything I want to be is being able to still be the mom at the end of the day. I can kiss away any boo-boos, I am the exterminator when I have to kill bugs, and I am a storyteller at bedtime. I get the best job of all. No matter where I go in life, I know that I will always be a mom.

I do not know about anything else in my life in any other aspect, but I do know that no one can take my children away from me and no one can tell me that I didn’t do a good job. Some days I feel like I could do more. “Here Logan, watch some cartoons, I need to clean, do homework, shower…” Before you know it Chloe is home and I feel that another day has washed away without me doing much with him. I always feel like I have to be the best I can be and take him on wild adventures and go spend money to have fun with him, but the moments where we get to use our imaginations together are some of the best moments that we can create.

There are days when I just want to crawl into a ball because I feel like I have not amounted to what I ever wanted, I have not completed what should have been done by this time in my age, that I have yet to make my own parents proud; BUT I have created two beautiful lives that help me retain my youth. I get to be a kid every once in a while, but I get to be a full time mom. I have an excuse to act like the ghosts are chasing after us at a playground filled with people, I get to act crazy because I broke my fake arm and my son has to fix it, I get to wear the construction goggles when we build something together just because I can, because it’s fun, because it makes them laugh. Their laugh is contagious, beautiful, and heartwarming. I do not think there could ever be a person who I love more than anything besides those two lives I created, except of course another part of me or two or three more J I am thankful to their dad for giving me two of the best gifts that God could ever give me. I am thankful for the moments I have with them. 

Listening is worth more than a lot of things

It amazes me lately how well everyone around me has been listening to me, what has happened to my listening skills? The people around me have been listening well to me and I don’t even realize that I have said things. They are listening and I am not.

In middle school we used to have these things called “Natural Helpers.” These were people who were ‘elected’ by their peers because they were considered the best listeners, people who anyone could turn to in order to talk about their problems and expect the other person to be attentive and potentially give good advice. I was one of those people for three years in a row, every year I was elected as one and I loved it. I got to leave school for activities that helped enhance my listening skills as well as other abilities in regards to being a good friend. I used to have pictures to a lot of these things, but after the fire I am not sure that I have a lot of things left. A whole entire part of my life was in a box that I had forgotten about and I will never see it again, if there was even much left after the fire. Anyways, for three years straight I was told I was one of the best listeners, what has happened to me then?

                My best friend got me a birthday present that has to be one of the best I have ever received. She gave me a necklace that has 13.1 on it to remind myself of what I have accomplished, I continually get better and better with running and for her to know that it is something I love more than anything amazes me. How did she know that this was something I would love so much? We unfortunately do not talk often enough, texts are few and far between, emails have been a couple of times, facebook is the easiest way to connect, and phone calls are almost nonexistent- this was the person that I remember talking on the phone for hours and hours when we were growing up. We talked about everything. Over the years we lost contact and somehow she still knows me. It’s sad because I feel like I do not listen enough, I feel like I do not know her like I should. If she’s my best friend shouldn’t I feel like I know everything about her? I do not listen well enough at all.

                At my daughters birthday party this past weekend she had all of her friends and we invited some people that we met while living down here in Florida. The mother I have grown pretty close with and it is nice to have someone around here to be able to talk to and to go out with if we need to or can. For my daughter’s present she got her a digital camera and scrapbook kit thing from Crayola. How did she know that I loved to scrapbook and that Chloe likes to sit down with me and do her own? I have only known her since January and she already knows me this well? I do not understand where my listening skills went to or my memory.

                I always give Brian a hard time for not remembering things, but I am beginning to wonder if I am able to remember anything at all either. I do not remember telling me things half of the time. I told my sister that I think a lot of it is that I do not have a lot of people to talk to down here, I rarely speak to anyone, so when I am given the opportunity to talk to someone, I do most of the talking and do not listen as well anymore. I get so excited to be able to have a conversation with someone other than my children or Brian. I just want to be able to talk to people about adult things and not just about my life. I feel like I don’t have a lot of friends, I have grown into a different life and they have as well, the ones that remain by my side are the true ones. I used to love listening to people, I used to love talking about problems and trying to help others get past issues that were going on in their lives. I used to love to listen, I never liked to talk that much and really I still don’t like to talk that much. I have definitely started to grow out of my shy tendency especially since having my children, I have been forced to speak to more people and be more open with things because they are making friends and wanting to do things.

                Listening is such a vital part of who we are, in order to know anything about where we are going and what we are doing, we need to listen. I never realized how important this skill was and I never realized that I had lost it. It’s sad to think that there are people out there that know me so well, that listen so well, yet I have not given them the same respect. Do they think I talk too much? Do they think I am a bad person for not listening well? All I can do is start listening now, start really listening to what everyone is saying around me. Most of the time it is in the small things that are said that you find the most truth and the most answers. I know that I can really get to know others if I truly open up my ears, because I know I have a great memory, there’s no way I would forget learning something.

                Listen- because you never know when the last chance you might have at listening to someone, it really is more important than it seems.

You will NEVER be Happy

Someone once told me: “Jamie you will NEVER be happy. No matter what you do or who you’re with- it won’t ever make you happy. You always find something wrong, you always look for faults in others. This will make you unhappy for the rest of your life.”

Unfortunately the person who said this to me is probably the last person I would listen to today, however it is also the same person who probably knew me better than anyone else. In life we allow others to get to know us, to become close to us; we put ourselves in vulnerable situations in order to make relationships. When those relationships begin to weaken, the first thing we rein in is our vulnerability. I allowed myself to be like an open book and I fell in love with someone I do not even know today. It is not because he has changed or I have changed, it’s because we have BOTH changed. Now that I have been through a divorce with him, I realize that the person I knew doesn’t really exist and I am unsure what part of the person I knew is even still there. I fell in love with someone who loved me more than their whole world, someone I thought I would always be with, until the lies started. After I found out about lie after lie I decided that I could not be with him any longer. In the months that followed there was so much that happened between the two of us, today we are able to talk face to face and on the phone without getting aggravated with one another. There is a part of me that will always think he still loves me and would be with me again and I guess at the same time I will always love him too. I could never be in love with him again because of who he is and what he has chosen to do with his life since I left, but I never really stopped loving him. I cried for days after I left him because I never knew if I was making the right decision, but I found out that I had. I finally felt okay with the choice I made and I finally felt happy about the choice I made, I knew that I was going to be ok. It is always a sad moment though when you know that the person you fell in love with when you were just a teenager is not the same person you are going to be with thirty years from that moment.

A couple months after I left he was still trying to contact me, still trying to get me to come back, but I couldn’t. He finally told me that I was never going to be happy, that I would never let anyone ever make me happy. When you hear that from an ex most people just think that they are just trying to hurt you, but I actually believed him, and I still do. I intentionally push every single person away from me because I don’t want someone to be so close to me that they know everything about me. He knew it all, there wasn’t a moment he didn’t know about, there wasn’t a time in my life that he wasn’t aware of, there wasn’t a person in my family or friends that he hadn’t met. There was only one person in my life that literally knew every aspect of who I was and he let me down. Where can you go from there? He told me that I push people away, now I will admit that my emotions are like a roller coaster and I never know where I am going to be let alone anyone else, but he always stood by my side and could normally make a bad moment good. Once I found out about everything he had done to me, I felt betrayed, hurt, heartbroken, and most of all- stupid. How could I let someone walk all over me? How could I let someone get to know me, to trust them, and then let them hurt me? How could I be so stupid? He tried to tell me that because of what I do to people i.e. push them away, I couldn’t ever let myself be happy. It seems that over time I have a tendency to push others away because the feelings that were once there aren’t anymore. I love the feeling of lust and desire and once that is gone all you are left with is the relationship that you have built- it really shows what you have created. I was still there in my marriage, unfortunately the other side was not and that was what hurt. Was I that ugly? Was I that fat? What was wrong with me for someone to do that?

Maybe I won’t ever be “happy,” but I don’t know; maybe I will. Maybe I will just fall in love with love, but maybe I won’t. I do not know what is going to happen, but I do know that what he told me is the truth to an extent- how far I’m not sure. Ask me when I’m 80 how my life turned out. It’s just funny how someone can still know everything about you, yet as time goes on I push myself to forget.

Temptation: it’s something that eats at us all.

That candy bar in the checkout aisle is calling your name. You don’t know how to avoid picking it up and just paying for the darn thing already. I love chocolate and candy just as much as the next person. There are days that I am not sure that I can go on living without it. I’ve tried to find some healthier ways of incorporating chocolate into my diet though without going overboard. I love ice cream, but I think it’s just the late night snack that I love more than anything. I have made smoothies and froze them, then at night when I take it out of the freezer I put a little chocolate syrup on it just to make it feel like I am eating the ice cream. I am getting the health side of it, yet I still get my chocolate.

Some of the other ways I have incorporated Chocolate and candy is buying the dark chocolate chips. I look for the bags that have a higher percent of cocoa in it in order to ensure a good quality piece of chocolate. There are a lot of people out there who think they cannot have candy and still maintain their figure or lose weight, but I beg to differ. I do not think there is a way that I could ever ban eating candy or chocolate forever, it is a part of who I am J Fortunately, I run all the time and I continue to work out, I still lose weight and I still continue to grow stronger, having that piece of temptation every now and then does not kill you. This blog is really just about my love for chocolate. I love it so much and right now I need some!!!

Are you standing still or moving on?

 Sometimes it seems like life is a revolving circle just full of routine, but there is so much that happens that makes me wonder. After I graduated high school, I applied for a college, moved away from home, thought I had it altogether.. then it all fell apart so quickly and I saw those around me kept moving forward- why did it feel like I was standing still?

            Sometimes I find that it is very easy to be envious of others when our life doesn’t seem as brightly shining. I remember seeing some of the people I had gone to school with during all of my school years and I had wished that I could have had the same opportunities as they did. Sometimes I wonder what God really had in store for me, what was/is my true purpose? I am almost 26- not done with school yet, have no career, my children are growing up so fast, I am divorced, haven’t ‘traveled’ the world.. the list really could go on. I know that I want to be a mother more than anything and that has made me happier than anything else in life. I have went through experiences that most of them haven’t yet.. and even when they’ve had children I will still have one that is five years older than theirs. I’ve been there and done that as a parent, I’ve been there and done that as a wife… but I never got to experience me. I never got to find who I was. There are times when I look through Facebook and browse my friends list and see what others have been able to accomplish in their lives. Reading about all the exciting things that other’s have gotten to do makes me want to de-friend them because I do not want to have those envious feelings. Maybe some people would be envious of me and my life, I don’t know and I’m not sure why.

            Since I have moved I continue to think about ‘what life could have been like.’ What would I be doing if I was still back home? I put the scenario in my head, but doing so makes me feel like I think the whole world stops because of a choice that I made. I still keep in contact with people and I know some of the things that are going on and it makes me wonder if I am just standing still. I feel as though I do not move on as the times move on, I feel as though I want the world to stand still until I truly make the choices in my life that I am supposed to. I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing anymore, I have said a thousand times to myself that I should change my major because I probably won’t be able to find a job. After putting all the hard work and money into my field though it seems hard to just change something. But where am I supposed to be going?

            I know that the place I think I could work at or the house I think I could pay for are all scenarios that I have created in my head because I feel that the world is at a standstill. Sometimes I wish life could be like that movie ‘Pause’ with Adam Sandler because then we could have the ability to change some things around. I don’t mind making mistakes but sometimes I get tired of feeling like I’m running around in circles not knowing where I am supposed to be. I don’t think I know how to truly move on from things, I just stand still and follow. I wish I was as strong as I pretend I am. Being physically strong and mentally strong are two different things.. There are also many different levels as well. I think I am mentally strong, but in different areas.

Is anyone out there?

It’s those moments in life when you realize you are all alone. The moments you find yourself searching through your texts and phone book wondering who are actually your friends. The moments you realize who you are.

Growing up I was the girl who had a decent amount of friends, someone who always had someone to turn to. I have never counted on myself and never trusted my own intuition. I guess I am not as independent as I always thought. I was always the girl who had a boyfriend, couldn’t continue living unless there was a boy by my side. Thinking of it now I have never actually been ‘single’ since about 6^th grade. Seems so draining just to think about 14 years of straight dating. What about the girl nights? The sister dinners? I was always too busy with boys.

Sometimes I regret decisions I have made, but I think we all do to a certain extent. Really- I regret a lot. The only things I don’t regret are having my two children and getting a divorce. Everything in between has regret. Although I know there is not much I can do because I can never go back in life, but I want to be able to tell my children things that I did that I regret, so maybe they can change their life and enjoy it more. I think life is about learning so that we are able to pass advice on from generation to generation- but at the same time what is the point of life really? I have yet to figure out what life really is about. I do not know at all. 

I am the type of girl that falls in love quickly, but never learns to trust. I know a man is never really the person he puts off to be in the beginning. They always change and not always for the better. A man can have me eating out of his hands in minutes because the only thing I want is to feel  loved. Unfortunately that feeling only lasts for  a little while. The good part about my kids is that they love me unconditionally- no matter what they love who I am and what I look like. I don’t have to work out hard to maintain a figure for them because they don’t care. I don’t have to try to go out of my way for things becayes they will love me anyways. The only people on this earth who love me regardless of anything are my children. Maybe I’ve been selfish. Maybe that’s what it all boils down to, I’m not sure. But lately, I’ve been feeling a lot of regret and I don’t know what to do with it all.

Death is an unfortunate part of life….

The memories of being a child are what we have to live for, it is what keeps us going, and it is what makes us who we are today.

I received a text a couple of days ago that said my grandma was not doing well and that my dad was going to visit her at the nursing home because he had gotten a phone call. I kept up to date with my sister and dad in order to ensure that I knew what was going on. I live 1200 miles away, all I want is to be included still. Everyone has made sure they include me as much as they can. As much as I want to drive home or fly home, I am unsure that is actually an option at this point. I have a race this weekend that I’ve paid money for, I have a birthday party next week, and my daughters birthday the following week- without knowing when she is going to pass, it is hard to know when I could come home. Plus I live here, this is my life, it is hard to jump up and leave it for a few days. Now, many people would question why I would even want to go to my grandma’s funeral- especially if you knew me. I haven’t seen my grandma in about six years, she has never met either of my children, but there was some sort of a falling out with my family and the children got the ugly end of the stick.

Growing up, there is not a memory that my grandparents are not in. Whether it was my moms side or my dads side. I remember going to my Grandma and Grandpa Haiflich’s lake house every summer and on the weekends at times. I remember going to their house and running through the corn field and running next door to hang out with my cousins and my aunt. I remember the kitchen table and the times they played cards. I remember feeling a part of a family unit, that no longer exists today. Part of being a child is reveling in the moments of your family, being able to hold on to something that is supposed to always be there- family, but in the end it sometimes turns out that they are not always there for you. I remember going shopping with my Grandma and my sister at the mall, we got to spend an entire weekend with her, it was a lot of fun. These are the only memories I have left, once I turned into a teenager, my family time was gone- our family had self-destructed after my grandpa passed away and we never really saw each other again. Most of that side of my family I have not seen since I was 18 years old, although I am able to be friends with a lot of them on FB thanks to social networking, especially since all of us children were the ones who were left hurt. Adults and their adult problems tore a family apart, although I still do not know what ever happened nor do I really care to know- I just wish that we didn’t have to miss out on all the family things, we never got invited to anything anymore and it was sad to not be able to be a part of it all. Now, I sit here with my last grandparent hanging on by a thread, living in Florida, missing the memories that could have been made, waiting on a phone call.

Most people would not understand the pain I feel with what is happening. I am upset because living so far away I knew that things were going to happen, mostly though I feared that something would happen to my dad or step mom because I know the shape their health is in. I am sad because I do not know what is going to happen and that there is nothing I can change about not having memories with family. We all make our own choices and we could have gotten a hold of someone to still be a part of things. I am mad that death is a part of life, although I am someone who is pretty numb to it nowadays after being a CNA for so long- I watched a lot of people die, I was close to a lot of them, I cried by their bedside when they died, I had loved them, once you feel so much pain you begin to not “care” as much about anyone and then when you lose them you won’t feel the pain. I’ve grown accustomed to it and I think I sometimes use it in my life as well, if I can’t feel the pain then nothing can hurt me.

Death is a part of life, but it does bring us closer to God. I know it is hard to understand who God really is and if he really is out there somewhere, but I like to think there is someone who cares more about me than I do. I like to think there is a palace somewhere waiting for me, with a lazy river and a mango tango. It’s about believing in something that is bigger than yourself and believing that there is a plan for everything. I know that my grandma is ready to go, she has been since my grandpa left. The day he died she stood by his bed side and screamed and cried for him to come back. The day he left us was the day she really left us to. To find someone you have given your whole life too, someone you have given your whole heart to, and then one day they are no longer there. That’s the lesson behind all of this. People are going to walk in and out of our lives, it is our job to make it worth the while, it is our job to let go and learn to love and grow and trust, no matter what the end result is. We are not guaranteed another second of life, we are not guaranteed another moment, do not let resentment or greed or selfishness get in the way of anything. Take the opportunity to care about everyone, and in the end if you get hurt or you lose someone, at least it will all be worth it. Time heals all wounds and we will be able to continue on, God will not let us down and he will not let us fall to a place where we can never get up.

It doesn’t matter where my family has gone, I still have love for my Grandma, she was and still is a part of my family and who I am. May God be with you Grandma and let you go in peace without suffering.

Isaiah 41:10  fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-strength-25-encouraging-scripture-quotes/#ixzz1t9Xb52PN

Psalm 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,   I will fear no evil, for you are with me;   your rod and your staff,    they comfort me.

Sometimes I just want my momma!!!

Today I was faced with some hard decisions and some hard reality. After 4 ½ years I had to go to the dentist because of dental pain- I knew the outcome I would not like, but I was not prepared. Once arriving there I was told that both the teeth that were causing pain needed root canals (along with many other issues going on). I tried to fathom what I had done wrong… a root canal?? I can’t afford $1,200 per tooth- I don’t have insurance. So instead of trying to figure out how to fork out $2,400 on 2 teeth I decided to get those 2 teeth pulled and spend the other $2,000 saved on taking care of the rest of my mouth.

            I’m in shock that I’m getting rid of teeth that I will never get back, but it makes me appreciate the value of my teeth a lot more. Something I should have listened to my mom about. She always used to tell me that I needed to take care of my teeth, but I never really cared that much because I just always assumed that teeth could just be replaced, although they can- it is way more expensive.

            I have been hard on my kids about flossing daily, brushing at least once a day if not twice, and rinsing at least once a day if not twice- they always fight me on it, but I will continue to enforce it because if I start these habits today they will continue this for the rest of their life. We all love routines and if this is something they consider routine for them then hopefully I can save their teeth. I do not want my kids to be in the same predicament that I am finding myself in now because I will never get those teeth back. If I’m not careful and not smart then I could lose a lot more… taking time out for yourself is way more important. No one likes going to the dentist, but those are the kind of things you need to do for yourself. In the past 4 years if I would have paid $100 here and there to get a cleaning and check up maybe I could be saving my teeth and money in the long run. I always hate putting a large amount of money down now, but if it saves you in the long run then it really is worth it.

            I wish I could get insurance and hopefully I will be able to get it soon, but only time will tell..

            My mom usually was always the one that had been there for me. Every time I went to the dentist, every time I went to the doctor, when I was in the hospital, when I had my wisdom teeth out, when I had a miscarriage, when I had my D & C.. she was always the one that was there for me. She wasn’t there for me though this time because she wasn’t able to be. I was emotional because I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know if the right choice was getting rid of my teeth and trying to save the others or if I should have done a root canal. I was faced with so many things that all I wanted was someone there with me. Brian was taking care of Logan for me, otherwise I know he would have been there for me. I just wanted someone to tell me what to do, usually I don’t mind making decisions, but I’m always looking for approval- I always want someone to tell me that I’m doing the right thing. I think I need to start thinking about me and what is best for me. I still wanted my mom though.

(This was wrote a couple of weeks ago, not today! My teeth are doing much better thankfully!)

Parenting: Why do I never feel like I amount to something?

I always try to find these great ideas on crafts and DIY stuff to do with my kids. They never seem to ever be that interested in it. I always try to get my son to work on colors, letters, puzzles.. anything when my daughter is at school- but I usually find myself behind my computer or school books while he is standing in front of the television. Am I the only one that ever feels like an awful parent?

Sometimes I wish I could just afford to take my son to a daycare or something because than maybe he’d learn something or he’d be able to play with someone and use his imagination! I just wish I didn’t feel like this. I want him to excel in school and it seems like he has a pretty good memory- I want him to want to learn and want to be good at something. I want him to want to do something other than watch TV, but I am just as much to blame because I allow him to sit there and watch it.

Sometimes I wonder how I could possibly go to work again. Between trying to deal with Chloe’s schedule, clean the house, cook dinner and other things, teach Logan, plus do my own school work… how would I fit in work? Every day it also seems like Chloe’s teacher sends something home for us to work on. Every week it’s a list of things that we should work on, not to mention that her golf instructor wants us to work on skills with them, and then trying to do things together as a family. It seems as though it is non-stop! Then I have time to sit here and write out blogs but I guess I want to feel like other people know what I am talking about, that other parents feel like they are in the same predicament as I am.

Who doesn’t want their kids to be smart, who doesn’t want their kids to be good at something? I realized that in order for our children to be good at something we have to be able to allow them to do something. My kids cannot be good at singing if I don’t give them the tools to sing, my kids cannot be good at sports if I do not let them participate in them, my children cannot be good at school unless I push them to do what they need to…. The list goes on and on. Most of the famous people we see did have their ‘connections’ to people, but a lot of if it has to do with having the right tools to succeed- being good at something because they have been able to practice.

 My hope for my children: I want nothing but the best for you, I want you to succeed, I want you to be something someday- whatever you want to be. I love you more than life itself and there is no way I can honestly describe the way I feel for them. I have never loved something so much in my life and I do not think I ever could, being a parent has been the greatest gift I could have ever asked for…. I may not always be the best parent, or the most fun parent, or the smartest parent, or the most disciplined parent.. but my love is unconditional and I want nothing but the best for you.

The greatest of all is Love

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is no self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, it always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

It’s that time of year again when everyone wants to talk about love and they think that showing the person they love one day out of the whole year can prove something… Valentines Day- nothing more than a Hallmark Holiday, so why should I care about it? I like the idea behind it, the idea of being able to share a day with the people you love and appreciating every moment of it. The idea of not dealing with life and what is actually going on and just letting it all be put to the side.

I have watched all the Twilight movies and I just finished reading all of the books as well. After reading them it made me fall in love all over again with Edward; it made me envious of the love that Bella and Edward have. I fell in love with characters, but it was something that seemed so mesmerizing. I fell in love with the idea of love… the absolution of one single person, knowing without a doubt that you were both made for each other, wanting someone so much more than you could ever say or show, and never being able to get enough of someone. Is that not something to be envious of? I am so completely happy that the saga ended the way it did and that there was the happily ever after, because I mean really- who wants the never ending after? I know that it was just a fairy tale and that kind of “love” does not really exist in life or does it? While I was reading the book it was hard for me to not want to actually become a vampire, to not actually want to live in this book! I fell madly in love with these people, I fell madly in love with the place they lived, I fell madly in love with love. “No measure of time with you will be long enough… but let’s start with forever.”

The reason why I read books is because it allows me to go to a place in the world where nothing else exists, where nothing else matters- I can decide if I want to be in a sci-fi place, a criminal place, a fairy tale- I get to decide! I have the ability to be alone yet still exist, although most of the time it seems so real that I cannot see the difference. Love is like a fairy tale, they say it only happens once in a while- true love that is- but I know I’ve had more than one true love.

Love is worth every moment.. the feeling of love is worth every moment…

I know that you can have that overwhelming feeling that is more than lust, where you completely and utterly fall weak in the knees because of someone. The butterflies in your stomach curl up around all the way to your heart, the sensation carries throughout all your veins until finally it allows you to take another breath of air, the oxygen you didn’t even realize you’d been deprived of. The touch, so gentle, so soft… it caresses every piece of who you are.

Herbs, Spices.. and health

What’s really good for my health?: It’s hard to adapt to a new lifestyle of healthy food, but the change is within you!

 

I know that I am a health nut. I would like to think that I could be a personal trainer no problem- but the more I read about health and foods that you should and should not eat- I am just as much to blame as everyone else for having the ‘wrong’ things in my pantry. I try to make a grocery list a head of time that way I know what my meals are going to be and I try to know everything that is going into my food. Do we set our kids up to become obese? Do we allow them to eat 'unhealthy' foods because of the labels we are suckered into? The claims that these companies are allowed to make although the outside of the package may not be as clear as we think it is. They claim that manufactures are adding sugar just because there is a growing demand of a sweet tooth. Americans have forgotten what healthy food was supposed to taste like because we have all gotten sucked into the world of sugar. A test: take away one thing of sugar a day and replace it with something healthy and see the change of how you feel as you progress- I bet not as sluggish and you might actually lose a little weight. The sugar that they are adding in is going to our waistline- and if you don’t get up and work out than it will never go away.

A rule of thumb- well a couple of them- if you want what’s healthiest then stick to the outer edges of the store, they have the fruits, vegetables, meats, and all the healthy foods. Buying frozen foods like fruits and veggies is also okay though because they are usually just as healthy. Another tip- if sugar is in the top 4 ingredients FIND SOMETHING ELSE!!! Most people hate to buy fresh foods a) because they go bad quicker and b) because then that actually requires them to cook a meal. I know that sometimes that can be dreadful, but the benefits that you are giving an entire family is worth it. There are plenty of websites that you can find that show you recipes to make- spend 4-5 hours a day and cook meals for over a month all with fresh food.

What spices do?

Basil: filled with antioxidants; contain oils that prevent bacteria growth and inflammation.       Make fresh pesto by blending 2 cups of fresh basil leaves with 2 tablespoons pine nuts, ¼ cup parmesan, and ¼ cup olive oil.

Peppermint: clear phlegm and mucus; soothes indigestion, gas, menstrual cramps, and IBS.      Add to batch of fruit salad with a squeeze of lime and handful of chopped mint leaves.

Sage: strengthen memory; alleviates effects of asthma and arthritis.            Quick pasta sauce- melt butter in pan until turns light brown, then add handful of sage leaves. Toss with cheese or pumpkin ravioli.

Rosemary: increase cognitive function; can prevent alzheimers and stroke.            Mix together minced rosemary, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Use as a marinade for chicken, steak, pork, and vegetables.

Thyme: rich in iron; protects food from bacterial contamination.      Pair with roasted meat and vegetables, tomato sauce, or scrambled eggs.

Cilantro: creates more insulin.     Chop up some tomatoes, an onion, and a jalapeno, mix with heap of cilantro and you have fresh salsa.

Parsley: anti-inflammatory properties; helps prevent decline in cognitive functions.        Chop and mix with bulgur wheat. Add olive oil, lemon juice, and mint- a nice salad.

Oregano: four times the antioxidant activity of blueberries. Add equal parts fresh parsley and oregano to blender- then slowly drizzle olive or canola oil. Strain and use the infused oil to top grilled fish or chicken. Or as a dip for toasted bread.

Tarragon: improves gastric efficiency and whets the appetite. Grill up a mixture of veggies and sprinkle with fresh goat cheese, tarragon, lemon juice, and olive oil.

All of these spices are great to use and can add some extra calorie free flavors. Also try looking through the spice rack as well because there are just as good things put in a container. I almost dread trying to learn new things, but I really have become accustomed to cooking and baking and have found a love for it- although I must say that pinterest is making me want to lose my mind with all the chocolate lovers out there. I know that I can make them, but I need to watch eating as many. Most people though who would meet me would say that I am crazy if I think I need to watch what I eat- but I do watch what I eat, why do you think I ‘look the way you think I do?’ I work out at least 4 times a week and I always watch what I eat. If I want a chocolate chip cookie I will try to limit myself to 2…. I try to think about what is in what I am eating. Especially if you didn’t make what is going into your body- then you shouldn’t divulge yourself into it. I think that if we read the ingredients and there are over 25 in something that is crazy! It is amazing what people are allowed to put into food and actually quite scary. I would not want to know what I am eating half the time.

            Anyways, I know that I am a health nut and that I really truly care about my body and the people around me, I thought maybe this could help with a little insight.. plus any new recipes. If someone has a great recipe that uses one of these herbs or a spice from the spice rack let me know please!!!

The Game of Tag

Although I do not realy know too many people who are 'bloggers' I will still try to do what I can!

The Rules:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.
4. Tag eleven people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!

1. Why do you blog?  I started blogging because I wanted to be able to talk about whatever I wanted without people trying to crticize, argue, or throw their opinions onto me.
2. What's your biggest fear? My biggest fear is never amounting to anything. I want to be something great for my children, I want to be able to show them what people are capable of doing regardless of what life hands you sometimes. I am afraid of never doing anything with myself or being able to get anywhere in life.
3. What's your dream job? My dream job would be a Chief Probation Officer for the Unites States Government. I want to go Federal not just county or state.
4. Do you believe in miracles? This is a difficult question for me to answer, I would like to say that I believe in miracles but I am not sure. I think that babies are miracles-- but there is also science that proves a lot as well.
5. What's your biggest pet peeve?  Annoying people? Is that too broad? I hate when people are hypocritical- how can you say one thing but then do something against what you said!! I hate when people live life in the me, me, me world- when it's always about them and their best interests.
6. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I would like to say I would love to live in Australia because I've always wanted to be there. I could say Mexico because it is so cheap, I could say Florida since that is where I currently reside- but the truth is, I probably want to live where I spent my whole life, but maybe not. There's tennessee that I absolutely love and like I said- Florida the Sunshine state.
7. What's your favorite quote/motto/saying? Happy are those who are willing to dream dreams and pay the price. Sometimes life is about taking that chance or that risk but you have to be willing to deal with the consequences sometimes.
8. What's your favorite food? A couple of months ago I would have said pizza or something greasy but I've gone away from those foods. I really love sweet and sour chicken and now I know how to make it!!! :) But I think my all time favorite food would be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches- quick, easy, and delicious!
9. Are you addicted to Pinterest? I would say half addicted because I am on there a lot, but I do not do a lot with it.
10. Would you rather go sky diving or scuba diving? Oh this seems like an easy question!! I would much rather go sky diving any day of the week. I cannot imagine the feeling of exhiliration and adrenaline when jumping from an airplane. 
11. What's something you splurge on for yourself? Taking me time I guess. I try to take time to run and work out because it is something that makes me feel better about myself. It's a time that I am able to get away and think about whatever.

11 Interesting Facts about me:

1. I have known my best friend since 4th grade! 10 years old- I cannot imagine someone knowing me better than her.
2. I ran my first half marathon in January. I cannot believe I was able to accomplish this.
3. My favorite actress is Julia Roberts: Awe honey I have a run in my panty hose. haha I'm not even wearing panty hose! (Pretty Woman)
4. I am still in school working towards my Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and will hopefully graduate in 2013.
5. I am a work out addict. I love to run, I love to weight lift, I love to train, and I love to learn about health.
6. I love to cook and bake... and try new recipes.
7. I have 14 tattoos and looking forward to getting more.
8. I am a scrapbooker and LOVE to craft!
9. I am grown up- but sometimes I still feel like I don't know what I want to be when I grow up!
10. I've been through a miscarriage, a divorce, and a fire- Sometimes I allow myself to become envious of other people, but I know that I have become stronger because of all of this.
11. If I could marry any celebrity it would be Pierce Brosnan! :)