I’m still here

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I know. I know.

I kind of fell off the blog wagon for a bit. But let me tell you it was because I was busy living life.

That’s right.

I moved into a new house in a new state. My family and I have been enjoying the sights here and essentially being a tourist.

 

I am enjoying the warm weather and I’ve already gotten a tan but my feet have yet to walk the beach. But soon!

Okay. So now that I’m trying to get back on track let me officially thank you all for the love you showed me when I was featured at SITS.

All I can say is WOW!! I truly felt the love. I so appreciate my new and established blog followers. I am so glad to share my little corner of the blogosphere with so many wonderful people. Thank you all.

There are so many things I want to share with you but let’s start with a few things that just can’t wait any longer.

As some of you remember I’ve been working on getting back in the game. It’s coming along, and I am following up on some leads, so we shall see. I will tell you right now I am truly a full time SAHM and it has been interesting. I confess there are moments I don’t know what to do…..but I can handle it. I have too.

Next let me tell you that just when I thought my husband couldn’t cross the street without me, he made me do a double take over the last few weeks. I mean he stepped up to the plate and took care of business. Literally, he handled ALL the business of our move and getting things set up in the house. I was in total AWE! I’ll keep the specific details of my gratitude private, but just know I thanked him properly.

Wait! I must say if you don’t have a thank him properly plan of action, I recommend you get one.

Moving on………………

Lastly, I just had to tell you I had the best fried squash the other day that I would have slapped my mama for the last piece*.  Good I tell you! Sitting here typing I really want to go and get more, but I gotta pace myself. Here in the south fried food is everywhere so I have plenty of opportunities to get more.

With that said, I am still exercising like crazy trying to stay in shape and be healthy. More on future goals to come.

So tell me what is new with you? Did I miss anything? Please share. I’m listening.

 

*Disclaimer I really would not slap my mama, she is old school and don’t play that. Even today, and I am over 30 years old, I’m not convinced she wouldn’t pull a belt out her purse and give me a lesson on respect.

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Testing 101

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Sometimes I have felt so alone, like God is not listening to my prayers or my cries for help. Then I wonder if he has forgotten all about me. And maybe you feel this way at times too?

That is why I wanted to share these words below with you.

God has not forgot, he is waiting for us to finish the work. AND then he will give us the answers.

 

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And then there was the Rainbow

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The rain will fall

the winds will blow

the thunder will roar

And the lightning will flash!

Some debri will fall and some structure damage may occur.

While in the storm you may be thrown from side to side, bruised and maybe a little broken.

But hold on cause after the storm the rainbow will appear.

And even as the storm is passing over, there are more blessings to follow.

I am so humbled to be posting today from our house! Thats right! Our very own home! No more nosey neighbor downstairs. 4 months ago I had no idea where we would be living and visions of returning home to mama’ em ran through my head.

But today is a new day and I’m finding joy at the end of the rainbow.

Dear reader – I pray that you continue to stand in your storm and when the winds get too rough, take hold of the anchor and know that soon the rainbow will appear.

Be blessed!

When the storms of life occur and knock you down, how do you get back on your feet? Tell me about. I’m listening.

 

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

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Getting back in the game!

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I wrote this post in my head while walking in the mall one morning taking time out for me. As I looked in the store windows there was so much I wanted to buy…… But couldn’t.

Some of you may know that I haven’t worked full time for almost three years. Not because I didn’t want to but because I couldn’t find a job that met the needs of my family.

And I tell you it has been hard financially but also mentally in some ways. You see I’ve always been able to provide for myself very easily.

Well when life happens, we make the best of it right?

I want to do more. And honestly I WANT more!!

I want those days back where I could buy what I wanted, within reason. I want to be able to stop telling my son no in the store because I can’t afford to buy it. Particularly things that a family with two working parents could buy.

I’m want to stop using a credit card and to pay for stuff with cash!!

I’m not complaining because we are blessed. It is not all about the material things, I know that. But there is such a sense of security when you can provide for self and honestly I like that!

One of my favorite tweeps @glossymimi once tweeted about if her husband needed her to help with financial support he wouldn’t have to ask but once. It was a very inspiring tweet.

My husband is an awesome provider and works very hard. But he could use more help, I know. Although he doesn’t ask for help because he knows our circumstance but I hear the call in other ways, including my own personal needs and wants.

But times are a changing!

As we continue to get settled in our new home and make adjustments to routines. You know what?

It’s time for me to get back in the game!!!

I’m ready.

 

To all of the single parents out there, bless you!

It’s hard to make ends meet sometimes but we endure and keep pressing forward.

How do you meet the demands of childcare and working full-time?
For those of you who stay at home and care for your children how do you budget for your wants and needs?

 

Please tell me everything! I’m listening!!

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I’m telling it all!

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So recently, I awarded myself the Blog Fail Award and I noticed many of you wanted the same honor. So go ahead and share in my glory, if you want.

Also, at that time I asked you all to post things that you wanted to know more of about me. Honestly, I didn’t really think anyone wanted to know anything prior to asking. But you all did manage to come up with a list of questions and today I am responding.

Mrs Pancakes wanted to know if I still worked in healthcare and what is my favorite activity to do with family?

I’ll talk about my career more in a bit, but let’s go ahead and discuss my favorite family activity. Honestly some of our favorite times have been when we were outdoors just enjoying life, such as at the beach, playground, or amusement parks. We just love those times when we can be carefree and truly enjoy the moment.

This Cookn Mom wanted to know it all! Marriage, career, & family.

This summer we will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary! {insert Standing Ovation & hand claps}. It hasn’t been easy always, but we are still standing! Prior to marriage we dated here and there for about two years 1998-2000 and then in Fall 2000 we made it exclusive. We got engaged in 2002 and married that SAME year, less than 3 months later to be more exact.

Our son was born in 2007 after trying to conceive for 6 months and after being on birth control pills for…..way too many years. It was a smooth full term pregnancy, minus the weight gain. Yes, I got an epidural and loved it! During labor the doctor kept saying push with the next contraction, and honestly I had no idea when the contractions were coming. I turned to look at the monitor so I could see the next one coming!

During labor my son’s heart rate dropped really low, and I remember the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach so well. I still can hear the doctor saying we have to get this baby out quick. I thought we were headed for the Operating Room for an emergency C-section, but instead she grabbed the suction thingy so she could help pull when I pushed. When he was born my husband says our son was blue and that he had never been so afraid in his life. The umbilical cord was wrapped around our son’s neck, so needless to say no one other than the doctor would be urgently cutting it. His first Apgar scores were low, but after a minute or two all was well. He will be 5 years old in the spring.

I don’t talk about husband’s career much, or at all really, because his career warrants  public attention at times, so to avoid any issues or backlash, I just keep it safe and leave that out of the blog here.

I started working in healthcare at the age of 16 as a volunteer in the local hospital. At the age of 18 after completing a certified nursing assistant program, I got a job working in a hospital. Since then I have been involved in some aspect of healthcare, most recently in education. I am hoping to return to the work force again in a more active role regarding staff development, and/or patient education.

Journee also wanted to know more about my family, so I’ll just refer back to the above.

However, I will add I grew up in a traditional family. My mom was a stay at home mom and my dad worked full time. My mom ALWAYS had dinner on the table when my dad walked in the door. I didn’t get that from her.

Lisa asked if I still worked in healthcare and if I would be moving soon.

At this very moment, I am not working actively as I would like in healthcare. However, I am currently searching for an opportunity to put my knowledge and degrees  back to work. Regarding the moving, the answer is yes. Click here to read more about that.

Denise suggested that I be creative and just share what I wanted you all to know.

In this post alone, some of you have probably learned a ton more about me than I have actually shared here on the blog. I guess if I added anything to this post it would be that I have come along way in this journey called life. I have ups and downs, good days and bad days but I believe that every. single. day. there truly is a blessing waiting for us in some form or fashion. We just have to decide if we make the effort to go it. I confess, some days I don’t. I am working on that. I’m still a work in progress, in which I have no regrets about that.

Mimi, like This cookn Mom wanted to know it all too, but had some questions regarding school, hometown, and siblings.

My hometown is in upstate South Carolina, located relatively between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA. I have two sisters, ages 27 and 30. I am the oldest at 33. I also went to college in my hometown, earning a BS in Nursing. A couple of years later I earned a MS in Nursing.

Terri wanted to know if I am good with writing prompts and left me a few to think about. Who knows, maybe she has inspired me for a future post too!

Yes, I am pretty good with writing prompts…… I think. I am best at those that resonate in me, you know the one’s that take me back to a place and time with vivid memories. Or the ones that inspire and motivate me to unleash my creative flow into a blog post.

Ms Donna  wanted to know how much do I resemble my avatar? In other words, she wants me to post a picture of myself. Yes, she is trying to get me to expose myself…. in a good way of course.

Well, I won’t be posting a picture today! Sorry Ms Donna. To my other readers, Ms Donna and I have actually skyped before and she has seen me via video. I know she is trying to pull me to the next level. :) Stay tuned.

However, I think on a really good hair day my avatar and I could resemble. I think……….

 

So this is me. Nothing fancy, rather plain. No surprises, right? Right? Okay. If something surprised you, let me know in the comments.

I’m listening.

And if you wondering about my recent move, stay tuned details to come.

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Finding the words to express my many emotions

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Have you ever felt like you wanted to say something? Yet, you couldn’t find the right words to express your anger, sorrow, and sympathy.

That has been me for many days. I lay in bed at night, just as I am this night feeling appalled, short of breath, sad, upset, angry, and that my heart will beat right out of my chest.

As my son sleeps in the next room so many thoughts run through my mind. The thoughts all revolve around Trayvon Martin. I’m sure you have heard of the story and some of you are probably tired of hearing about it and won’t even finish reading this post. That is likely because you aren’t a parent. (If you haven’t heard about the shooting of this unarmed teenager, search Google which has so many articles I couldn’t narrow down a link to post here).

For me, I grew up hearing stories of racism from my grandparents and parents. And when I say stories, I am referring to their real life accounts. As a young girl growing up in South Carolina, I had some encounters myself but minor compared to most. I still remember the  controversy with symbols related to the confederate flag.

Now in 2012, I really believed that things had changed, and that racism wasn’t as bad. Mind you, I’m not totally clueless I knew it had not been eradicated. I just hoped that my son wouldn’t have to deal with issues that were based on a factor he would never be able to change……..the color of his skin.

It hasn’t been determined in a court of law if the shooter in the Trayvon Martin case is guilty or not. I only know what has been reported. Those reports are the things that send tears down my face and make me hold my son a little tighter than usual. My heart aches that there are still people that will look at my son, nephews, and other loved ones the way the shooter allegedly profiled a seventeen year old African American child.

I know many have signed petitions and made their voice heard through social media and other means. But today, I just ask that you pray for the family of this boy. And, if you have children please just hug them a little tighter than usual today.

How do teach your children that skin color doesn’t define a person? Do you lead by example? Please share your responses in the comments. I’m listening.

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The storm is passing over

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My personal testimony. 

Some of you who follow my posts and visited some of my features know that last year was not a great year for me and that I had faith that this year would be better.

I have been blessed in many ways since I moved away from home almost 11 years ago.  Although some moves that we made weren’t ideal for me I remained confident and steadfast that I will stand by husband and go where he takes me with his career. I know many women wouldn’t do that, but from day one I committed to the lifestyle.

Living many, many miles from home I missed so many events in my family, births, weddings, birthdays, and funerals. And even the girlfriend get togethers.

But I continue to trust in the lord to order our steps.

Last November a series of events took place that left us unemployed, uninsured, and honestly not knowing what to do. Some of you might remember that Sometimes I cry.

But friends I tell you God is able.

God opened a window and blessed us with opportunity in our home state of SC. And my husband did everything he could to get the job. I’m talking about leaping tall building and all!

And just when I tied a double knot in our rope, the door opened with a job offer and the deal was signed and sealed!

Honestly I CANNOT express the joy that I feel at this moment.

With that said, listen and enjoy the video below, it gives you a glimpse of how I feel.

 


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

I’ll be away for several days but I look forward to writing my next post from The Palmetto State. :)

And remember weeping may endure for a night BUT joy cometh……….

My God! My God!

We all go through storms and we never know how long the storm will last, but remain faithful that the sun will shine again.

Note: This post is being published weeks after I wrote it because I needed to put my thoughts down at that moment. I am so happy to finally be sharing it with you.

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It’s OKAY to talk about it

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Women are always sharing what they don’t like about themselves. You know, we wonder about a nip here or a tuck there, etc. etc.

But why don’t we talk about the good we possess? We all have things we can pat ourselves on the back about.

Right?

Yes. I’m right!

 

Sure, I confess I still have visions of going braless and have the boobs stand at attention.

And I wish I had the perfect smile that glistens.

I even wonder what it would be like to have great hair that required little effort.

I don’t!!

But guess what?

I have managed to sculpt a nice pair of arms and a couple of years ago discovered that there really is a 6 pack in my refrigerator.

But it’s NOT just about looks.

Absolutely not!

You see it’s time we speak about all aspects in which we can be proud.

Let me start with a few examples.

My friends say I give them hope and motivate them to keep the faith and to do better. For that I am very humbled.

My little sisters, who aren’t so little anymore still look to their big sister for direction and support.

My son says I’m his bestest friend and mommy.

My husband says “baby, you the best”. I like to think that goes for all categories of marriage.

My point here that I want you to take away is it’s okay to talk about the good traits and qualities you possess.

Let’s go ahead and practice in the comments.

What is your best trait? And yes, you can list more than one!

Tell me about it. I’m listening.

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Fitness Goal – 10 minute mile

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Photo Source

 

Just 3 years ago I probably would have told you I’d drop dead just thinking about running a mile, let alone in 10 minutes.

First, let me back up even more and tell you that all of my adult life I’ve been thin. Even now at 33 I weigh less than I did on my wedding day almost 10 years ago. I have participated in exercise off and on since my college days, but honestly I can now say I wasn’t in shape.

Being a healthy weight and in shape are two different things. I encourage you to evaluate the differences.

Okay. Okay. I’ll give you an example.

If you are 5’6″ and 125lbs and can’t run up one flight of stairs without gasping for air…..ahem, you might be out of shape.

Moving on…….

A little over two years ago I learned to swim, and during that time was my wake up call that I was thin and out of shape.

How did I know?

Gasping for air and holding the pool wall every couple of strokes was definitely a red flag.

It was shortly after learning to swim that my mission began.

The mission?

To get in shape.

So I became dedicated to exercise by attending exercise classes, working out at home, and swimming, of course.

And now I can honestly tell you I’m in the best shape of my life.

BUT one thing still taunts me, the 10 minute mile.

I would run on the treadmill and my best time was 13 minutes. Grrrrr!

However I recently ventured outdoors to a local track and guess what……. The first day I did it in 11 minutes!!!

I have learned besides dedication that sometimes you have to change your routine and shock your body.

And that is just what I did.

So now it’s your turn to reflect on your own physical fitness.

Are you where you want to be? Do you have a personal goal? Tell me about it. I’m listening.

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All about me

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Photobucket

It’s all about me today!

I have read a few blogs in which they share a post linking to their about page. I am sure each person does this for various reasons, so I can’t tell you why they do it.

However as I thought about it, I thought it was a good idea and that I should do something similar.

As many of you know I LOVE quality feedback and hearing from you in the comments, but today I am asking that you take another minute to get to know me more here.

Some of my favorite blogs to read are those where I feel I can connect with the author. And for me a connection is something that I want with my readers.

So please click here and let’s see if we connect in other ways.

And if you really want to leave a comment…. I won’t stop you.

Tell me, are we alike in some ways? Or totally different?

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