Days gone by...

Where does the weekend go?!  The days just fly right on by.  I remember when I was in high school and would wish for the weekends.  My mom would always say, don't wish your life away.  Then it didn't matter. Now I know what she meant.  And I wish I could go back in time and to the days when things were easier.  Where life wasn't as crazy as it is now.  Where safety wasn't such an issue.  Where the hills, valleys, and creeks were our play ground.  What fun we had.  My cousins lived right up the road from us.  Our summers were full of so much fun.  No, we didn't travel here or there.  All our fun was right there on our own land.  We had ponies, bikes, barns with hay, hills to roam, creeks to explore, and so many other things to keep us busy.  We would get up in the morning, eat and leave the house.  Our parents didn't have to worry about us. We were gone till dark without a care.  Yes we had work that we did, but all of us working together got it done quick.  Then the day was ours.  All those things are now just a sweet memory that is stored in my heart.  All those small things that were really big things, that I never thought to appreciate at the time.  Days didn't go so fast (unless it was weekends or summer). ;)  The things that excited us were small compared to now.  We had to use the phone with the party lines to call people and talk.  There were no game systems, computers, internet or cable.  Just our imagination and where it would take us.  Each day was a new adventure.
I would love to go back just for a day. But I also love my life now.  I love my family and all that God has blessed me with.  God is so good - all the time...

One blessed woman...

Today I awoke from a good nights sleep.  Took my son to school and then the day was mine till it was time to pick him up.  I cam back home and laid down for a bit, got up and got ready and went out with my bff to eat and to run errands.  The whole day was mine. to do as I wanted.  That is nothing new.  It is always this way and has been for 20+ years.  From the time my dear sweet husband and I got married we decided that once we had children, I was a stay at home mom.  And I have been, still am.  The job I always wanted with the best pay in the world. Hard?  Yes at times it has been.  Rewarding?  Yes always!  This afternoon I read a blog at http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/04/how-to-make-a-home/ .  And it really made me stop once again and thank God for all my blessings.  For a hard working husband who has never ever been lazy.  Who has always went to work and worked horrible hours.  Long, hot, cold and tireless hours.
I met this amazing man 25 years ago is May.  In September, we started dating.  Engaged on my birthday in November. Married in December.  All in the same year.  Everyone had doubts that we would ever make it.
We have climbed mountains.  We have crawled through the valleys.  We have struggled.  But through all of this we did it together, with God.  We were blessed with children 5 and 9 years after our marriage.  I stayed home to raise these babies.  I was there with them day and night.  Morning and evening, sickness and health. Fussy and laughing.  Through it all. The greatest joy of my life has been being a momma and wife.  My life long dream, that really my Cary has made happen for me.  I can't ask for more.
When we met, he was young and spry!  The years have taken a tole on his body.  His knees and back aren't what they used to be.  Driving those big mixer trucks are rough on a person.  Does he complain?  No!  I've tried to get him to take days off.  Does he?  No!  They depend on him, his customers depend on him.  And he has a family to take care of.  Those are his replies.
So each day as I rise, I thank God for giving me the precious life I have.  For my sweet children that I never thought I would have.  And especially for this man who walked into my life at its lowest point and swept me off my feet.  For him loving me through all the ups and downs.  The good, the bad.  And when I lay down at night and he is laying asleep I look over at his peaceful face and know God was watching out for me all those years ago, when he sent him into my life.  I am one blessed woman...

Everyone is not alike...

People come and go in your life.  It isn't always an easy thing to deal with, but you learn from these experiences.  Everyone comes into your life for a reason.  What you get from it, is your own reasoning of life.
Some stay a while and some pass right through.  It can be a  hard lesson to learn, knowing that so called friends are users.  That they think because they are friends they can take advantage of situations.  When they don't get what they want, they turn nasty.  They talk about you and say bad things about you.  But all of these things is what makes us stronger.  It makes us wiser and more careful.  BUT on the flip side, we should not let these kind of people keep us from meeting new friends.  Everyone is not alike.  Give people a chance.  Be good to them, see what they bring into your life.
Being a good friend doesn't mean you agree on everything.  It means you agree not to agree on things at times and just leave it alone.  Those friends that stick by you no matter what the reason is, are the true friends. The ones that weather the storms with you, laugh in the rain, cry through the rough spots, dance when no one is watching or when everyone is watching, talking and talking and talking, or sitting in complete silence and being comfortable with all of that.  I have some of those.  As always, I am blessed.
 

Friends...

Whew!  It has sure been a crazy few days.  Life will hand you some rough rows to hoe sometimes. But sticking to it and moving forward, you always come out on top.  I do think what makes things so much better is good and caring friends. Those that are there for you when times are tough.  When things go wrong, they are there to lift you up.  Make you smile and laugh.  I have some good and true friends. God has blessed my life so much with friendship.  Friends that I have had for years, a few years, and new ones too.  It lifts my heart to know that some just linger waiting till you need them and then there they are.  I am amazed at their loyalty and commitment in all things.
Make sure you let your friends know what they mean to you and how much you love and care for them. That you are there for them, just as they are for you.
Life is good...

Who moved...

The sun is shining and it feels a little warmer. That helps with so many things.  :)  

Not many know I have been working hard at getting my diabetes under control.  My Dr (God love her heart)  told me I needed to go on insulin.  I have fought that for at least 3 years.  I just keep telling her let me try again. She did.  I didn't.  Then this past December my daughter sent me a text begging me to take care of myself.  She as well as my son, had lost their grandma, my mom and it has been really rough on them.  IT was then that I knew I had to do something.  My weight was out of control. My blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes all way out of control.  I was a time bomb waiting to explode!  Last summer I dealt with chest pain and ended up in the hospital having a heart cath done to check my heart.  PTL everything was ok.  I felt that was a good sign.  So January 1st, was my starting point.  I could have 150 carbs a day.  So that was my biggest concern, not calories or fat, but carbs.  I knew I needed to exercise too.  Here it is in the middle of winter and I need to walk.  Walmart is a wonderful place to walk when you need to stay out of the weather.  For once, I was thrilled the place was so long.  ;)  I slowly figured out what foods I could and couldn't have.  What was the best and the worst.  I tried going off the diet soda but that lasted a month.  Yes I felt better without it, but it was one of the things I really liked and so I backslid on it.  I visited my Dr. 2 months ago and she seen I had lost weight and I showed her my readings from my finger sticks.  She was very pleased and said she still wanted me to try the insulin because I was really way off on that. So she put in the order for it.  

I never did get it, it never has came in.  God knew I wouldn't need it. ;)  So today I went back for a check up.  I was down more weight, 22 lbs to be exact and my bp was 124/70.  She was even more pleased.  I was thrilled.  But what thrilled me most was that she said we were going to hold off on the insulin for now.  :))))))))))  YES!!!  So I am very happy with myself.  I know how hard it is.  I know what a daily struggle it is to make sure you eat the right things and not to much of this or that.  I haven't went without anything I like.  Ice cream?  Yes I have had that a couple of times.  Pizza, yes that too.  Beans and cornbread, yes.  All this carb filled things, yes.  I have it but I also log it into Myfitnesspal (www.myfitnesspal.com) before I eat.  When I go out to eat (Cozumels) I don't get the chips and salsa.  I order veggies and chicken breast.  It is that way everywhere I go.  BUT I log it!  I look things up on this and see what it is, is it worth that splurge?  Is it worth the carbs I will be getting out of it?   If not, then I don't have it.  Or I have 1/2 of a serving.  

It is all about taking time, being aware and never giving up.  IF I stumble, I get up and keep going.  I pray that I will be able to continue this road I am on.  I know without God guiding me, I wouldn't be able to do it. He knows I want to see my kids grown and enjoy my grand babies (one of these days!)  God is good, he is faithful and he never ever leaves us.  At my hardest and darkest times, he carries me.  I feel him around me all the time.  IF I don't, then who has moved.  It sure hasn't been him.  What would I ever do without Him there for me at all times.  Always!  I am blessed!

Days...

There are days, and then there . are . days!  This is one of the latter.  I have a hard time dealing with stupidity.  No I just don't deal with it at all.  Along with that goes know it all, pushy, and belligerent.  I have my fair share of all the above.  I guess it is just the way of some people that seemed to get on that last nerve that is dangling by a thread anyway.
There is so many things going on in this world that is much more important than others. People are heart broken, sad, grieving, saying good bye to their loved ones for the last time.  And on and on.  So many things matter and so many things don't.
I've just had a rough day.  Not that I am anything, but my heart aches for people.  For their losses, their hurts.  For all the things that life seems to dump on them.  Things that make me say HEY I am very blessed!  Very VERY blessed!  Life is to short to worry bout these minor things.
So this evening is mine.  Mine to spend with my son and let him know that he is really top priority along with his sister.  Sometimes I feel they get pushed out due to all the other work I do.  I need to start making some changes.  No one prepares us for things that happen.  But we can make the best out of things that are there while we have them.  Hug those you love tighter and closer tonight. We never know what the next day will bring us.

Sunday is almost here...

As I think about what tomorrow means to me, so many things run through my mind.  One of the biggest things, is my own two children.  The love that I have for them, what I wouldn't do for them, and what I wouldn't give for them.  Until you have a child of your own, you can't know this love.  It is different.  It is SO different than any kind of love I have ever gave or felt.  And so this has me thinking bout Mary.  I can't imagine what she went through as she watched her son go through all he went through.  The beatings on his back so that we may be healed.  This was done with shards of glass.  Can you imagine that pain.  The crown of thorns pushed down on his head.  These were thorns that were 2+ inches long.  Not these little tiny things.  This crown wasn't just sit on top of his head, but pushed into his bone and flesh.  Imagine the blood running down his back and his face.  Imagine the sweat burning into these wounds.  And then having to carry your own cross up a hill knowing that you were going to be nailed to it.  Your clothes stripped off and being nailed to the cross.  The long spikes put into each hand and feet.  And the tearing of muscle and flesh as the cross is raised and then dropped into the ground.  Being thirsty and being given a sponge with vinegar on it to quench that thirst.  The piercing of his side.  The pain and agony that he went through, as his sweet momma looked on.  Knowing she couldn't do anything to help him or save him.  Knowing he had to do this to save mankind.  It had to be done.  But I think of her watching this and although I don't know her agony, I know what it is for my own children to be hurt or have an injury.  You wish it was you dealing with the pain.  You would take their place in a second!  I am sure the felt this way too.  Wishing she could take his pain away, to hold him and tell him everything was alright.  But it was not to be.  Why?  Because He knew I needed for this to happen. I needed for this to come about so that I could have eternal life.
Just today, I said a few things in anger that I shouldn't have said.  I apologized.  I asked God for forgiveness.  And I thought, I can do that, because he gave his life for me.  Tomorrow is Easter, new life, new beginnings, old things are passed away and all things are new again.  If you don't know my Lord as I do, you have time to make that change.  All you have to do is just ask Him.  Just ask...