May Have To Delete...

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, a long while, but it seems lately I am getting some spam from the blog into my email. Random comments that are spam. So I may have to delete this blog or move to another site like....

I am going to give it another week or two and see what happens. Don't worry the few that still reads this, we are all here, surviving this heat wave and soaking up the last few weeks of summer before school is here - can't believe it!

I hope all is well with everyone.

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Happy Birthday - Uncle Mike

Yesterday was Uncle Mike's birthday - he would have been 70. Would have been... I hate saying that! Even though we all know he isn't in pain anymore, loosing him was not easy especially for Aunt Carol and the boys. When I received word from Sean the night he passed away, I was out playing volleyball and the tears came down - it just broke my heart as I knew the long journey ahead for the  boys and for Aunt Carol.

Immediately the next morning, the troops started emailing each other knowing that we all needed to be with Aunt Carol, knowing that we had gone through the same thing, the things they may or may not need, but just to show our support. We were all fine when we meet at mom's that afternoon, with the basket of goodies and the beer in tow, we headed out. Still no tears, everyone was good, calm. Then we walked into Aunt Carol's house and she saw us, I was the first one to hug her - and it all came rushing back, the memories of that first 24 hours, of when someone passes. Some people just make you cry, not sure if it is the comfort of their hugs, if it is because you are close to them, if you know they have been through it, but some people you can just let go and cry, be angry at, ask the why questions.

We were hesitate in going over that first night because we weren't sure if they just wanted to be with immediate family or not, but I am so glad we did. We all talked a lot, about the pain, about what the next year is going to hold, about the wonderful memories of Uncle Mike and stories, oh the stories :)

The funeral was very nice - it was a beautiful morning and the tribute to Uncle Mike was outstanding, again another stellar member of the Hut A/C family, so a lot of ole ball players that he use to coach came by just to pay tribute to a great man. Many tears were shed that day, many stories were told and many beers were consumed. It was a beautiful day to celebrate a great man's life.

And now almost two weeks have gone by, everyone has gone back to work, everyone tries to move on the best they can. Yesterday they celebrated Uncle Mike's birthday by going to the Reds game, what a great tribute to the #1 fan! I was so happy to see that on FB. As cliché as it is to say, life goes on. It is a different life, you have something missing in your heart, in your soul, there is always that empty chair at the family gatherings, there is always a child asking about Grandpa, there is always going to be stories told, some days you will cry, some days you will laugh until it hurts, some days you will be angry at the world of why do they take them so young, some days you will be grateful for the time you were able to spend with them, you will question every decision you ever made, if we went this route he may still be with us.

I am not going to lie and say it is going to be easy, it isn't an easy thing to do at all and you never truly let go, you just learn to live on. You miss them dearly every day, and you tell stories every day, you want the younger grandkids to learn about Grandpa and you don't let the older ones forget...

I know he is in a better place but it doesn't make it better or easier for the people that he left behind. Take one day at a time, don't be afraid to cry, don't be afraid to laugh and tell stories. Make sure you tell each other all of the time that you love them, because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Happy Birthday Uncle Mike - I will never forget your smile and your great dance moves, your laughter and your "getting personal" gesture - you will be missed greatly! Love you!!


Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Australia

Well, I made it there and back in one piece, but it wasn't easy :)... People ask me all of the time if I enjoyed my trip and if I am being completely honest I can say I did not. I know it is a once in a lifetime to go over there, who normally gets that kind of opportunity. I did, but in hindsight I think they brought me over to interrogate me about our office here in the US. It was nothing but uncomfortable question after uncomfortable question. - Oh it was miserable, not only that, but the flight was so LONG - oh my goodness. I HATE to fly so to fly 20+ hours by myself, oh goodness. No sleep because you can not get comfortable on the plane in anyway. So I caught up on movies, I believe my total was I watched 10 of them, that is a lot. But what else are you going to do. And it was going into their winter so it was cold.

I would go again, if I took someone with me and if I got to see more. I really didn't have the opportunity to do too much since it was working interrogation - boo :(

I did go to their Sanctuary which is like our Zoo and saw some Kangaroos and Dingos - and I took a tour of the great Ocean Road on Mother's Day - it was weird being by myself in another country on mother's day. Normally we are all at mom's bugging her :)... And I went to their version of a football game, I will have to find a video so you can see. It is pretty interesting and fast paced - a lot more quicker than American football. But because I have been gone from work for 10 days, there is a LOT to catch up on - because I have no back up, it is just me. I think I need a raise :)....So I will leave you with a few pictures of the trip.

 

Steve and the boys made me a flat family, so I could travel with them wherever I went. Steve is needing some sun :)

 

 

 

 

Many, many prayers continue to go to Uncle Mike and Aunt Carol. I hope God grants you comfort soon! I love you guys.

 

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

 

Much love and happiness to all,

Uncle Mike - Update

Hello all,

Just letting you know that Mike has been in the hospital (St E's Ft Thomas) since last Wednesday evening. We came because he started running a fever on Tuesday evening and it seemed to break during the night but then it returned on Wednesday afternoon and they couldn't find any reason for it so they sent him to the emergency room and he continued to run a fever until Saturday evening. We still have no reason as to why he was running the fever and as of now his temperature runs normal to maybe 99.9. They did discover that his calcium levels were crittialy low and so he has been receiving calcium intervenously and orally and also the same with magnesium. No one knows why his levels are so low. He had a blood transfusion on Saturday evening and he is getting another tranfusion right now! Mike needs lots and lots of prayers. They will be doing a ultra sound on his kidneys tomorrow because they aren't working very well right now. Hopefully the sodium biocarbonate they are giving him willl help the kidneys tonight.

I'll keep you posted when I know more.

Love and friendship,

Carol

prayers and more prayers!

~~~~~~~~~~~
Keep those prayers coming!!!!!!

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Uncle Mike Update

Hello all,

Thought it was time to write an update on Mike! At the start of this week (Monday) Mike has had physical therapy twice a day here at Highland Spring and has been transported to St E 's Ft Thomas everyday for a radiation treatment. It has been a busy time. His last radiation treatment on his lumbar area will be done on Monday 5/20 and they will also start radiation on the thoracic area that he had surgery on Monday. He will have 2 weeks of radiation for that area. His physical therapy and occupational therapy is going well. We can see small improvements in his legs and they are also working his arms to help strengthen them and so with continued physical therapy he will hopefully regain movement in his legs.

Please keep the prayers coming!

Love and friendship,

Carol

Uncle Mike

Update from Aunt Carol:

Hello all,

Just thought I'd send an update on Mike to catch everyone up on what has been going on the last couple of days. Yesterday Mike was moved to Highlandspring in Ft Thomas. Last night he was in a semi private room and was moved today to his private room. They came and picked him up for radiation at St E's in Ft Thomas and then back and once we got back they came to get him for physical therapy. He is scheduled Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week for radiation also. He is one TIRED and SORE man! His incision is still painful so all the moving around didn't help much. We will know more next week once he has more therapy. He is hanging in there and hopefully we'll get him home soon!

Keep the prayers coming and I'll try and keep the updates coming.

Love to all,

Carol and Mike



many, many prayers coming your way!!!!

Love to you both

Australia - Ready or not

Well, today is the day - today is my first international flight, it is my first time away from the boys, all three of them, it is the first time in about 20 years I have gone anywhere by myself - am I ready - nervous and excited and scared and sad all rolled up into one.

Brayden started crying last night and was holding on tight when I was saying good night, Logan hasn't left my side all morning long - which I love. It is going to be hard to say good bye - I know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity but it also makes me sad to be experiencing it by myself.

Thank goodness for technology though so we will be able to face time and skype and call each other all of the time. Steve, poor Steve... it is a busy week of sports, I hope he survives LOL

Please say a special prayer for my Uncle Mike - he is in the hospital as they found a tumor on his spine which was causing him not able to walk. He had surgery on Sunday where they took some of the tumor just enough to hopefully help him walk and get around a bit. Prayers, prayers, prayers....

Cancer - sucks!

I hope everyone is doing well, life is getting away from me again as I haven't been on here a while - just been a crazy couple of weeks/months. I am sure this week I will be journaling a lot as I have nothing else to do while flying 15+hours :) I am jumping off to spend the last few hours with the boys, I hope everyone has a great week - and I pray that Uncle Mike is feeling better soon. I love you

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

What We Have Been Up To

I was reminded today that I haven't posted anything in a while and for that I am completely sorry. Time... just got away. So what have we been up to in the last few weeks - here is a short version because the long version will bore you :)

- Soccer practice for Brayden - who is on a select team now and we all know what select teams mean
- Soccer practice for Logan
- TBall practice for Logan - which I am proud to say so far he is enjoying it, thank goodness. I grew up on the baseball field both playing and watching dad and the boys play. I have always wanted a baseball player, so hopefully Logan sticks with it. So far he is playing really well and likes it. We will see after playing in the hot son LOL
- Finished up our volleyball season for the 4th grade team, we finished 3rd and we finished 3rd in the tournament - woo hoo! It was so much fun and the boys learned so much. I can not thank Mindy enough for helping me
- Steve and I started playing volleyball at Dickmann's on Wednesday night and we even got Jenny to play which is so much fun. it isn't about being good, it is all about the laughs, the wings and the beer drinking.
- I booked a trip to Australia - and if anyone knows me, they know I am a very nervous flyer, very nervous. But I am called to go for work. With as busy as the boys schedule is and with the costs of the air flight, Steve is not going - so I am going by myself - am I scared... Petrified more like it... Never been away from the boys for that long - it is going to be lonely and I am going to miss them like crazy but I can say that I have been there - which that I am excited for. Am I excited for that long flight... not at all
- Went to the doctor, I am anemic which I knew and my hemoglobin is low. He basically told me in a nutshell that he didn't know how I was still alive. For in 2011 before my appendix surgery I was running on half the blood my body needed. Great, thanks, doc!!! Now I am running a quart low and with medicine and vitamins and eating better we hope to correct it. And here I just thought I was tired because I was up at 5:00 in the morning every day and going non-stop. Who knew....
- Both boys are almost done with school - can you believe it and then we will have a 5th grader and kindergarten - I can't believe they will be in the same school - I will be a mess on the first day.


Um, I think I have completely bored you, but that is the synopsis of our lives within the last month. I will do better of keeping up with the blog. Just kind of got sidetracked and honestly haven't been on the computer that much - too busy, enjoying life!

I hope all is well with everyone and you are enjoying this somewhat crazy weather. If it isn't warm, it is raining or only in the 50's :)

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Can you hear it?

do you hear them this morning, the birds chirping, the air is lighter, people are becoming happier, please say that there is no more snow. I am optimistic in that spring is about ready to  burst through. It has been a long winter!

So looking forward to my flowers

And just being outside and being warm and having deck parties and having the kids play until I have to drag them in at night because of it being a school night! I am so ready for the change of weather and a change in life... I continue to pray to see what God has in store for me...

This is a beautiful weekend in the celebration of the Rising of Christ - what a beautiful weekend it is going to be!

I hope everyone is doing well and is as excited about Spring coming as I am....

Have a beautiful and blessed Easter weekend!

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Say it Ain't S.N.O.W.

tell me I didn't hear that word on the weather forecast this morning. C'mon - it is almost April, where is Spring. Can you believe this time last year it was 80+degrees... oh the joys of Cincinnati weather. I refuse to wear a winter coat - I am so done with them and I know the boys are too.

We are headed into volleyball tournaments for the boys team I coach with the help of Mindy! We finished with a winning season - I am so excited for them. They actually are starting to have fun and have used the things that we have taught them. Tomorrow we are going to scrimmage them, 3 on 6, so we will see if my knee survives :) - We have learned that if we bribe them with something then they play better and they have a goal at the end.

Whatever works right LOL

I hope everyone is doing well. It is the weekend at least, but yet another busy one!!!

Stay warm and do the S.N.O.W. dance so we don't get any. Ha, Ha, Ha.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Decisions we Make

sometimes making decisions really sucks - you know! Especially when it comes to families. We have all made bad decisions, I am the queen of bad decision making, believe me. I just bring this up because there is an employee here whose father is having a triple bypass surgery as we speak. Well, this employee uses his vacation days as he gets them, he never saves them and because of that decision he isn't at the hospital with his dad because he can't afford to take a day off. It tears me up because I want to say go take the day off we will pay you for it, but I can't. Because others have had to use vacation days. It is just a consequence of using your vacation hours as you have accrued them.  You should save them for something like this is all I could tell him.

Speaking of decisions: I often wonder about decisions of owner's of companies. We had this in depth conversation about it yesterday at lunch. If you are an employee for a company and you help build it, you work your ass off for years, you pour in sweat and tears and time away from family, when the company is sold, do you reap any of the benefits of that or does the owner keep it all. This came up because a co-worker of mine went through it as we all have and she was saying that she was expecting to get something and got nothing. I am torn in that yes you did work hard for the company, but the owner has such a huge personal risk in that no one normally sees. They just see the work that they do and not the risk that the owner has to go through. Not to say that there shouldn't be some type of reward for those employees who have worked there maybe more than a certain number of years. But then there was another co-worker and he experienced the opposite where the owner shared some of the earnings, not by any means 50-50, but the owner did give the long term employees something - I think it makes the employees feel appreciated and make them realize the decision they made to work for that company was a good one, and the owner realizes that he wouldn't have been getting all of those earnings if it wasn't for dedicated employees. I know there are arguments on both sides - it is interesting to hear people's opinions of it. I don't care either way. I have been on both ends of it.

I guess I will find out soon, as our company is probably going to be sold at the end of the year. Makes me kind of nervous if I will have a job next year or not. I know, I complain a lot about it, but it is a job and I have Catholic tuition to pay :) BUT yet, today I have to make the decision of when I am going to Australia - ugh! It is just hard because I have never been away from the boys, including Steve that long - and I don't think we can swing him going with me.


Decisions, Decisions, they suck sometimes.

Ugh!

Happy Thursday!

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

1st Day Of Spring - so they say!

can you believe that it is really the 1st day of Spring. If it weren't for the sun shining you wouldn't know it, it is so cold.... Ugh!

March is almost over - I can't believe it, well, yes I can. We have been so busy for the past 3 weeks with volleyball, soccer and baseball starting, with homework and coaching and with just being with family and friends - it has been craziness.

So I have this opportunity at work, you know the place I don't like :), but our CEO in Australia wants me to come over for a visit to see how they run their facility over there. Well, I know it is nothing like over here, because Australians don't work, they live their life and have a great balance of family and work. One co-worker told me that they (she works in Australia) get 3 months off work paid for working at the same company for 10 years!! I am so moving there LOL

Any way, so I am presented with this opportunity. Several things are standing in my way:

 - Time away from the boys, ugh - it would be like 10 days
 - I HATE to fly, really hate it. So for me to be on a plane that long just thinking about it is giving me
anxiety
 - Finding the time to go, Steve is traveling, end of school year activities, sports activities, I don't know if there is going to be a perfect time.
 - Did I mention, I HATE flying!!!

So it is a big decision to make, I'll continue to pray about it and see where God leads me.

I hope everyone is having a great 1st day of Spring!, At least it isn't snowing, not today anyway LOL

Happy Hump Day!

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Getting Beat Up

this has been a rough week - getting beat up a lot, mainly at work. From being told that I don't know what I am doing, to dealing with stupid issues from people - it has been a rough one and it is only Thursday - Ugh!

I found it rather appropriate this morning as I was driving in and talking to God to give me the strength to get through this day, this song came on!


"Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)"

I saw you standing in the middle of the thunder and lightning
I know you're feeling like you just can't win, but you're trying
It's hard to keep on keepin' on, when you're being pushed around
Don't even know which way is up, you just keep spinning down, 'round, down…

Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

So hold your head up and tell yourself that there's something more
And walk out that door,
Go find a new rose, don't be afraid of the thorns
'Cause we all have thorns
Just put your feet up to the edge, put your face in the wind
And when you fall back down, keep on rememberin'

Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

It's gonna run out of pain
It's gonna run out of sting
It's gonna leave you alone
It's gonna set you free
Set you free

Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

It's gonna set you free,
It's gonna run out of pain,
It's gonna set you free

Happy Thursday!

Miss and love you dad ~ so  much.

Much love and happiness to all

I need a drink!

okay so I may have mentioned a few times on here how I hate my job, but who doesn't hate their job right. Today, I especially hate the position I am in, as I have to be the representative for the company and go to a funeral today for an employee's son who passed away at 8 months old! UGH!!!!... I don't do funerals very well anyway, and I hate doing the gasket thing and especially since dad passed away, I just don't do well at them. So needless to say, I will be a mess this afternoon, having to do this and just knowing...

Luckily I talked a fellow co-worker in to going with me and we will both be a mess as we are mothers and we just do not understand why things like this happen. I know it is God's will, but why must he take them so young. No parent should ever have to bury their child, ever!

So yes, after we deliver the food and pay our condolescenes we will be headed to the local bar to have a drink to numb it all. I didn't realize being in this position at work, that I would have to do things like this. I think I am going to have to ask for a raise if I am going to be the face of the company at functions, especially these type of things. Goodness!

I hope everyone enjoyed the last snowfall, that is right, I am confident that it was the last one of the season - Woo Hoo!... Spring fever has definitely hit our home and I am so ready to be outside again. It is suppose to be nice this weekend, so hopefully I can wash my car one last time of the snow/salt/yuck... and we can just enjoy being out and not cooped up. I can't wait for that first warm spring day to where I can open the windows up and let all of the fresh air in - I can feel it now :)

I hope everyone has a better Friday than I am going to have - enjoy your family and give your kids an extra big hug today.

Have a great weekend!

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Not sure how much soccer will be played

with the three little monkeys playing together: Lydia, Will and Logan and guess who the coach is - Sean! Goodness, what have we done :). J/K... It just worked out that Logan's last year coach was not coming back this season and Sean had signed his kids up to play in the same league. They were looking for coaches, so Sean volunteered. When he went to the meeting, he found out Logan was on his team without us even asking for him to be - of course the kids are SUPER excited. Probably because they think it is going to be play time all of the time. But Sean said Game On! Oh goodness.

March 1st - so excited that dreary February is over. I don't care if it rains the whole month of March but just to be able to say that makes me super excited that warm weather is around the corner. March is extremely busy for us, with me coaching Brayden's volleyball team along with Aunt Mindy, lots of games and practices between that and Logan's soccer - it is going to be a crazy month. Just need to take it one day at a time, one day at a time.

I hope everyone is doing well! I know I haven't been on here much but so busy. We have a big meeting today at work, big changes coming, once I find out I will let you know - my two big readers :)

Happy Friday everyone - enjoy the weekend. And have you noticed the days are starting to get longer - minute by minute. Woo Hoo.

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

True Happiness

a co-worker of mine just returned from a trip to his wife's home country of Singapore. As he was talking about his adventures and as we were looking through pictures, I couldn't help but notice how truly genuine happy the people with, and they had nothing. They had a well for their water, this is how they cooked, bath, washed clothing etc. Their kitchen, well it wasn't tile floors and granite counter tops - it was dirt and the sink wasn't even a sink.

Their living room, they brought out for their guests - it is a folding table with plastic chairs around it - this is their living room, no big screen TV, no Wii, no couch to sit on or even a bean bag chair to lounge around in and their living room was outside - it wasn't inside their little home. My co-worker was explaining how where his in laws lived, this was considered the "rich" part of the town, to us it looked like a shady apartment complex in Covington.

And through these pictures and stories, one thing that was common was that these people had smiles on their faces from ear to ear, they were genuinely happy, you could see it on their face and you could see it in their eyes.

Us Americans, we are spoiled brats. I grew up not having the best of the best, I remember wanting a pair of Guess jeans because that is what was in style, they were like $50 - mom said to get a job :) We had cars or if you can call them that, that barely ran - these people in Singapore, they ride bicycles. I know people as we all do that absolutely have to have the best of the best, the biggest house, the most expensive car, the latest technology, the fanciest cameras, the best clothes, the latest hairstyle, and I realized and have realized, that people like that, are just hiding their unhappiness. It is a status quo thing you know. Let me have everything so I don't have to show anyone I am unhappy, I can just hide behind my materialistic items.

There is a lesson to be learn from my co-worker and his trip; do we really need all of these materialistic things to be truly happy - NO. A person just needs God, friends, family and love in their life - we don't need all of these materialistic items to be genuinely happy.

If you can't find happiness with out your materialistic items, then you are unhappy person and you are just lying to yourself that you are truly happy.

Find your genuine happiness - be the person God wants you to be, he doesn't like greed.

Happy Cold Thursday - at least February is over :)

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

What We Have Been Up To

I know I haven't posted many pictures lately, but here is what we have been up to the last 4 months or so... in no particular order.

Brayden, Lydia, Will, Logan, Cary and his girlfriend Amy at mom's house
Christmas 2012

My neighbors, I love them! This is what I came home to
on my birthday, x's 10, tons of Pelicans and decorations.

Brayden and Logan - 1st snowfal of 2012

Brayden's car for Pinewood Derby. He came in 2nd overall, so he moves
on to the races amongst other schools in April - Yeah1

Brayden and Logan - Soccer

Logan's Outdoor soccer team


I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!. Boo to Monday :)

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Happy Birthday - DAD

It is funny this week I had been thinking about dad a lot, I think about him every day, but this week the memories were a bit more often and I could feel him around. Maybe it is because it is his birthday!

I miss him - so much. He would be enjoying life so much right now, especially with all of the kids.. they would have loved their Grandpa tremendously. In hindsight the none of the younger ones have any memories of Grandpa, not even Logan. We talk about him all of the time and look at pictures so that helps me at least to tell Logan stories of Grandpa and what he was like. Lydia sometimes out of the blue will get real sad and if you ask her what is wrong she will say, I just miss Grandpa so much. He spoiled her rotten. She was the first granddaughter since Olivia - so that was an 8 year waiting span for a girl, instead we have all of these boys LOL.

I can already see us at mom's on Sunday eating cheesecake and signing to dad Happy Birthday and all of the grandkids chiming in and giving him home made cards and eskimor kisses. And then Ms. Olivia will chime in with her special birthday song that she does for everyone. And we would all be there even Cary, who is busy with being a Senior at the moment and Case probably would have called to wish him a happy birthday - what a great memory that would have been!

We miss you dad - a lot! Our lives are not the same without you here, there is a whole in everyone's  hearts and just a piece missing of our family. We know you are looking down on us and are with us every single day, but I sure do miss the hugs and the eskimo kisses!

We will have a toast for you dad, probably tomorrow night when we are all together, but until then, Happy Birthday and know that we all love and miss you very much!

Happy Weekend everyone!~

Stuck

so lately, like the past 6 months or so, I have been feeling "stuck" in my life, not me personal life, just my career. As much as I love this company, there are days where the HR side of it, just really takes its toll on me. So much drama here at the office and then in everyone's personal lives. I have always been a good listener and that is becoming a downfall, because people will tell me EVERYthing and I mean EVERYthing.

Steve has been great and dealing with me switching jobs when I am unhappy, but I don't think it is fair to do that to him, anymore. I weigh the pros and cons of this job everyday, I haven't gotten to the point of not wanting to come in, but it is getting close. It is just a frustrating position and an underpaid and unappreciated one at that.

So this morning, I saw this " You may feel like you're stuck, but get ready; God is about to shift things. Doors are going to open that have not opened in the past:

I can only hope that God is listening to my prayers :)


I hope everyone had a great weekend, ours was crazy busy as always and it is already Monday - ugh!

At least it is one day closer for February to be over - I can't wait for March, even if it rains the whole month, at least it will be lighter outside and it won't be February LOL

Happy Monday!

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love to all,

I.Did.Survive

wow, didn't realize it had been so long since I posted anything. Life, it is just getting in the way. I come into work in the mornings, thinking I am going to take 10minutes or so and just type away, but with us having a 3rd shift, I get bombarded as soon as I walk in the door, sometimes not even when I walk in. Then a girl is on maternity leave and since I am such a great multi-tasker, guess who gets to do her job, and then a new payroll system - and the list goes on and on. I have been working almost 60 hours a week. I sued to do it all of the time but got out of the mode, so it is killing me trying to get back into it. Luckily it should only be this bad another 2 months - woo hoo!

Then, you throw my life on top of it. With school work, boy's activities, coaching volleyball - it has been the least, a little CRAZY!! So I really haven't had time to grasp the concept that I am 40! One of these days it will hit me and probably hard where I am in the corner crying :)...

I decided for Lent to give up alcohol, I know, I know what am I thinking LOL. And it isn't even that I drink that much because in hindsight I really don't. I do go out once a week with the girls after volleyball and may have a few at mom's on Sunday's but it isn't like I am drinking every night. It is a sacrifice I know, but isn't that what God did for us. Besides Brayden told me last night that he was giving up something he really enjoyed and loved and that was all sweets, so he asked me to do the same thing, so here it goes! - I'll be fine, it only makes me tolerate my family more, Ha, Ha, Ha

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well, it is already the middle of February - so unbelievable how time flies, but I am so ready for Spring, so ready for it. I hate being cold, hate the big coats and the snow and the having to stay in the house all of the time. Winter and I are not friends!

It is Friday - thank goodness - I would say I am looking forward to the weekend, but I will be working - so it won't be much of one, just two more months, just two more months LOL

Happy Friday - and have a GREAT weekend!

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Oh - the Big 4-0! YIKES

so today is the day, today I can no longer say Thirty, I have to say Forty - Yikes! It really isn't so bad - yet. Driving in this morning, I reflected on my life, as sometimes I do. I thought how my 20's was nothing but partying, going to school and working, little faith, no really big huge worries, my thirties I was getting settled into a career, trying to figure out motherhood, still stressing about looks and not comfortable with myself, made mistakes as we all have, dealing with dad's sickness and death, refinding my faith again and just thirties, just seemed a crazy time in life. I can honestly say I am looking forward to my 40's.

I am settled once again into a new career, although there are days that I HATE my job, this is where God has me now, so I am happy. I have a home, food, clothing, a wonderful husband who loves me, still not sure why :), two beautiful boys that keeps my life full of laughter and mishaps, a stronger faith, a wonderful family, both immediate, and extended, wonderful friends - I am happy with who I am and how far I have come since my 20's. It was a bumpy road, but if it were smooth we wouldn't learn anything and by far, we wouldn't appreciate what we really have.

I am blessed - very blessed. I embrace my 40's - I am happy on my 1st day of "gulp" 40 :)

Now, if I can just convince my sisters to go sky diving with me LOL

I hope everyone has a great day and is enjoying this BEAUTIFUL weather!!! Thank you dad for that gift LOL

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Pros vs Cons

so we all know I hate my job, well, if you don't you do now :)... I love the administration side of things and I love the people I work with, well most of them. But dealing with the day to day drama of people is just tolling - everyone has a sad story, everyone has problems and some people just have bad luck - you know... Oh, it's been a long draining week. This job definitely makes me blessed for the life I have been given - definitely.

I stay here, definitely not for the money, because if you are a woman at this company you aren't making squat, it definitely is a "man's" company - kind of unfair huh. But the major pro is, I can be flexible with my hours in that if Brayden has an academic meet or if Logan has a parent thing at school, I can go to it. Of course the work ethic I have, I am always working at home to get things caught up. Right now, I will take that pro - they are just getting involved in so much as they get older so I need that flexibility. At my old job, the pro was definitely the money - everyone there was paid what they were worth because everyone definitely put the hours in all year long, especially the summer, but the con was not really having the flexibility of doing things with the boys, or no one really had the flexibility to be with their families.

So in every job, you have to outweigh the pros vs the cons - right now for me it is having that flexibility because if it was for the money I would say "See You".... I still just may just because of the emotional drain it is taking on me... we will see what God has planned.

I hope everyone is doing well, it is January 17th - Yikes! Getting closer day by day to the big 40! Still trying to process that I am moving into that number - I think I will be okay, maybe :)

Happy Thursday - it is almost Friday - hang in there.

Miss and love you dad ~ so much

Much love and happiness to all!

Winter - Please Leave!

awe Winter, you stink! Since New Year's Day one of the 5 of our families have been sick, whether it is the flu, a bad cold or what have you, we have passed it around to EVERYONE! I am so ready for winter to be over - enough is enough already. Brayden has it today and is so upset that he has to miss school. Yep you heard me. He loves going to school, I have never had a problem with him as far as going. But today was also his first academic meet and he is so mad at me for making him stay home. But with a 100+ temperature, the shakes and a bad cough, um... you aren't going to school. WINTER, YOU CAN LEAVE NOW!

I have been dealing with something but it isn't the flu. I didn't feel bad until this week, last week, I had lost my voice which happens once or twice a year. But this week is when I started coughing a lot more and having headaches, but no fever - Steve on the other hand is on his death bed - he has the flu and you would think.......... well never mind, you know how men are when they are sick!

Logan, my sweet little Logan slept with me last night in our bed and he says to me, "Mommy, I really love cuddling with you and I hope I can do it all of the time" That my friends, is exactly what I needed to hear after having a horrible day at work. He seems to say the sweetest things at the right time - gosh, I love that boy!!

Jen and Bill were able to go to Miami for the ND Bowl Game, we are know the ugly outcome of the game - gosh it was ugly! But what an experience for them and for Casey to have. They were able to meet up with Uncle Tom (Mom's brother) and his son Tim - which I am so happy that they were able to because we don't see nearly enough of them. But they had the time of their life. I keep saying it, but what a hell of a senior year for Case!!!!

Here is a picture of them at the game, they were able to see Case on the field and some one was nice enough to take their picture.








What an exciting time for them!!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and if you are battling the flu or a sickness, hang in there :(

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

New Year, New Me, New Us - 2013

WOW! That is all I can say. I can not believe another year has gone by. Every year we say we are going to enjoy the moments, we are going to enjoy life and before you know it you are celebrating the end of the year and the possibilites of the new year!

I don't make resolutions in that they never seem to be kept. Sure I do good at the beginning of the year but then, you know, life gets in the way. Instead I have set goals for myself and to renew my faith and love in God. I need to learn to give him everything, to trust that he is always there for me and that I am right now where I need to be in my life. Although I pray every day for another path to take me down, especially career wise. I think a year in Huamn Resource is a year too much :)... Not that I don't like people, but oh the drama LOL. I just have to put my faith and trust in him and if another path is chosen then it is chosen.

This is a big birthday year too - the big, ugh, 40! I just can't believe I will be that old. It doesn't seem possible. I know 40 isn't that old, but... it may be a hard birthday. This is a year that I will reconnect with old friends, I will continue on my journey of a healthier lifestyle, if I could only give up the Miller Lite :)., it will be a year that the boys and I will grow stronger as a family and we will continue to make wonderful memories, it is a year that we will be celebrating three big graduations in our family, Case from ND, Cary from HC and Olivia will be graduating from 8th grade - what a BIG year for them!

We will continue to cherish and flourish the friendships that we are making through the boys sports and schools, through out our neighborhood and through church. And we will reconnect with old friends. Work, it just shouldn't get in the way. We as a society work way too much. And we worry too much about finances and materialistic items. Not everyone can keep up with the Jones, and who really wants too, sometimes the Jones may have all of the materialistic and coolest items, but they do not have what is really important in life.

Be yourself, be who you are to be - I look forward to the new year, to the new beginnings, to the journey ahead. It will be a heck of a year I am sure, but we are in it together, and as long as we have each other - it will be a FANTASTIC year!

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For the few that read this I am sure you are wondering about our Christmas. We had a fantastic Christmas, I have been unplugged for about a week except for the post on Logan's birthday. Even on Christmas morning, I took no pictures, I took a video, but was just really in the moment with the boys, knowing this was Brayden's last year of believing. We still haven't talked to him yet... don't want to :) So hence, that is why I didn't post any pictures on here yet. I know there are some floating around from mom's and when I get them I will post them on here.

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL holiday season and was blessed to make many memories and to be with family and friends. Cheers to 2013 and I wish you nothing but the BEST.

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,