Ups and Downs

It's shaping up as an extremely interesting week so far.  Monday Mikaila broke her left pinkie finger playing football at school.  The orthopedic specialist says it's broke at an angle right at the middle knuckle.  It's her first broken bone. It's splinted and taped to another finger at this point, and we will have it re-examined next Monday.


On a brighter note, last night I attended a book signing for the first time.  It was for a fellow '92 Bob Jones High graduate, Christy Jordan.  She has her first book, a cookbook, out and was signing and speaking in Garland, TX.  What a sweet and wonderful lady she is. If my camera hadn't died, I would have posted a photo of us along with this post. Happy Cooking!

Who Would Have Thought

If you had told me 3 years ago that I would ever even consider getting a tattoo, I would have thought you had a few loose marbles.  Well, as times change, so did my thoughts on considering body art. Don't get my wrong, I'm no huge fan of tattoos as a whole, but the thought of something permanently attached to me for one very special purpose started to intensify.  At first, when I would ask my husband Jim (who by the way does NOT like tattoos at all) what he would think if I got his name inked on my ankle, he would always say, "Are you really sure?"  Knowing how he felt, I did not go through with it, as that would really defeat the purpose if he didn't like it being there.  Then about a year ago, I realized what was wrong with this scenario.  Since Jim and I had met online and ever time (now or then) when I would type I Love You to him, he has always responded with "MeU2".  When I suggested using that instead of his name, I saw a glimmer in his eye.  So, this past May, I decided to have my ankled tattooed. Jim did not know I was going to have it done, but I took Mikaila with me.  How rebellious she thought I was!  Later that evening, after a nice dinner out and a movie..I showed my new ink to him. Even though he and I had never liked tattoos, there just seemed to be something so right with it. It's interesting how things seem to change sometimes ~

Early Bird

At this time every year, I always pledge to have my Christmas shopping done before December 1st. Of course, it has yet to ever happen.  I vow this year to be different.  About a month ago, I did manage to buy for about 30% of those people on my list.  That's about where it ended.  With only one day a week that Jim is not working , and him wanting to go with me, it's hard tying up that time shopping, even if we are shopping online. Would pinning down exactly what I'm going to get everyone be easier or should I stick with going out and spotting that perfect gift when I see it?  Knowing what I want to get someone is great, but sometimes I just can't figure it out! Is a stress-free December possible?

A Day of Answered Prayers

What a wonderful day this is, made even better by the incredible wall-to-wall coverage of the Chilean miners being rescued. Listening to each individual story is better than any reality show TV could come up with. Continued success to the rescuers!

Fresh Start

After working on and off at the same place my husband works for a few years, including at most times working 80-100 hours a week or more saving their hides, I was brought into the owner's office for a meeting. I was told how valuable I was and how everyone knew what Jim and I had done for them and how appreciated I was.  Wow, finally...a little recognition?  Not exactly. Apparently not only was I not working enough hours, my promotion was offered to a CLOSE family member.  My 9 1/2 years of putting our lives on the back-burner was noticed but now that the company was reaping the benefits from our work, I would be stuck exactly where I was while "others" got their new titles.  That was it for me, but not before he got a dose of the reality that I was no longer going to save them while I stay in the shadows.  Needless to say, that was my last day being the company "Catch-All".  Jim and I do severely miss working together.  It's not easy watching him leave every morning going to a job his loves doing, but a company he hates to work for.  

So, short story made way too long...I'm a stay at home mom again.  I would love hearing your stories and views, or just an occasionally rant or two!  This is the first blog I've ever done, so I would appreciate any advice or links or whatever.