Trying to try harder

I received a few IMs from my buddy MarkD down in the Caymans. He is one of the very, very few who apparently still keep up with this dwindling blog. Thanks, Mark!

That prompted me to look back at a few of my old posts, and I realized how much this blog that I started over 6 years ago helps me to remember the past.

I was reading my posts from when Katrina hit New Orleans, and if I hadn't put my feelings down on virtual 'paper', I don't know that I would see them as clearly now.
I have a terrible memory and often have to be reminded of things that have happened in the past by other people. It's getting worse with time too . . .

So, as I've said before, I'm going to try harder to update more often. My middle baby turns 14 tomorrow and when I began this thing, she was John's age, just 7. Seems like a lifetime ago. I do remember back then being afraid to face my kids getting older and not needing me as much. Now that it's here, I see that most of my fears didn't come to be. Maybe that means I should start worrying less? That probably won't happen.

New Post

Look, MarkD, I'm doing TWO in a row. Ain't no stopping me now.

I think I may need a hobby. For the past 15 or so years, my life has been almost 100% about my kids; bringing them where they need to be, trying to get some 'quality' time in whenever I'm not at work. Independence is almost here for my oldest; she gets her license in 6 weeks and has a car waiting for her. She even has a summer job lined up (to help pay for gas hopefully!). I'm hoping her new independence allows me to be a bit more free myself. I have friends involved in different interests, but when I think about it, I don't really have anything I can call a 'hobby'. I spend some free time reading and playing on FB, and wasting too much time with games on my iPhone. Yes, I'm an addict when I swore I never would be.

I'm thinking about learning a bit about photography; I was interested in it in High School, but now, 25 years later, I've forgotten most of what I learned. I figure I'll devote some time a few days a week to learning the basics. Maybe I'll share a little on my blog. MarkD, you can tell me what you think.

Here's to following through...fingers crossed.

Not sure...

I'm not gonna lie. I totally forgot about this blog, until MarkD reminded me last week. I so much want to revive it because I enjoy having a diary of sorts. I have more incentive now because I'm pretty sure no one reads it anymore (except MarkD!).

Problem is, I find that I can't find things to write about. The words don't flow, and if I come up with something, I find it to be boring and too 'surface'. It wasn't that way so much when I first started blogging years ago. But for some reason, I can't get my groove back.

I don't even read blogs anymore; every now and then I try to catch up on one or two, but Facebook is my time sucker now. Although FB is good for communicating and setting up social things, it doesn't dig deep.

So, my intention is to get back into this. But I need inspiration. I need topics, and I'm not sure how to get there. If you have any ideas, (MarkD) let me know! Maybe if I lived in the tropics, it wouldn't be so hard...

B-ball

We just signed John M. up for basketball this winter. It's the first year they've offered it since he's been playing age. I'm so excited to watch him. He's only played with his cousins, Andrew and Big John, in the past, but they are great players. And good teachers for him.

My dad was a great basketball player, and coach for many years. Mark's dad played too. Mark's not so bad himself, so I'm hoping those 'hooping' genes kick in for John M. It's a sport I love to watch and it gets me excited like no other sport does. I can remember going to all the games when my dad was coaching and getting caught up in the spirit and excitement in the gym.

So, I hope 'Little John' enjoys the sport and has the love for it that 'Big John M' had and his cousin 'Big John' has for it now.

Go Hornets! Go Brusly Panthers!

Happy 15th Anna Adele

Tomorrow, my first baby will be 15 years old.
It sure was a lot easier when she was only 5, but she makes me proud every day.
I love you, AnnaBean!

Grateful Friday

This has been one of the longest weeks I can remember in a while; I think all of the worrying about my job situation made it drag and drag. Still counting my blessings though:

1.) Just watching the happiness of my kids, when they don't know I'm watching. I picked Emma and 3 of her friends up from Youth Group just a few minutes ago. I had the Sugarland CD playing with one of my new favorites, 'Shine the Light' and as it was playing, I just watched the kids through the window. Laughing and talking and just being carefree. It was the best part of my day.

2.) Having a day off this week and a good friend to spend it with.

3.) Visiting with my sister just for a few minutes today and being thankful that I have family so close.

4.) My mom and the 4 gazillion things she helps me with each week.

5.) A good lunch with a friend today who is planning her wedding!

6.) The beautiful weather we're having in South Louisiana

7.) Seeing Keith and Emily last weekend and having a mini-meatfest.

8.) Emma's 13th birthday party tomorrow. I hope she has a great time.

With so many things to be thankful for, why should I be worried about a job, right?
Okay, still worried, but grateful at the same time.

Slow It Down

Most days, I feel the need to slow my brain down a bit. My mind races sometimes, mostly with worries and things I need to get done. Does that accomplish anything or make anything go more smoothly? Definitely not. It's just the way I'm built.

These last few days have been worries about my job and whether or not I'll have one next week. And bills, tuition, braces, everything...

So, I'm trying to slow down and appreciate that my biggest worry is still very tiny compared to what many people are dealing with on this day.

So, I'm going to breathe, chill out and put myself in a 'happy' place. Like Cafe Du Monde where John is in this pic. ;)

Thankful Friday

It hasn't been the best week. We just got word of lay-offs in the agency that I work for. I've been with the State of La. for almost 20 years and nothing like this has happened before. Everyone is afraid that they may be on the chopping block and it's tense. We won't know for a few weeks exactly who will have to go. I'm trying to be optimistic, yet realistic at the same time.

Anyhow, Beki reminded me to count my blessings and put things in perspective. That's what I'll do here.

So thankful for . . .

- my wonderful work friends, who aren't 'co-workers' anymore, but some of my very best
'for-life' friends.

- a movie day planned tomorrow with all my girls.

- (this one's always on the list!) the health and happiness of my little family

- a new stove coming in Tuesday (okay, not the best timing with the lay-offs but who knew?)

- tons of pecans on the ground after all the recent wind!

- quiet Friday nights at home watching TV and eating gumbo

- the upcoming holidays with friends and family

The blessings far outweigh the worries. And that I'm very thankful for!

41

By the way, I'm officially 41 years old, as of last Thursday. I'd like to think I'm the same age as Anna, if you're dyslexic just on my part.

The thing is, I don't feel any older than I did when I was . . . say, 18. I remember my grandmother, Maw-Maw Jean, talking about that very same thing. I'm not sure how old she was at the time, but I was a teenager so she must have been in her 60s. She loved to travel with us to all of the LSU football games and she'd say how she didn't feel any older than she did in her 20s. At the time, I couldn't comprehend that. I mean, to me, she was O.L.D.
Of course, anyone over the age of 25 seemed prehistoric back then.

Anyway, now I'm starting to understand what she meant. And I feel so lucky and blessed to feel the same way. It's odd when you look in the mirror and see an older version of yourself, gray hair, wrinkles, smile lines, but you look away and could swear you're a teenager again.

I'm going to revel in this feeling while I have it. Age is only a number. I'm truly starting to understand that!

I remembered my account info!

I haven't blogged in over a year; last year was a crazy one. And this one has just been busy. I don't find that I miss blogging that much, but I do like the idea of having a diary of sorts to look back on. I read my friend Beki's blog and always think what a great way to look back and remember what was going on during a certain period of time.

I'm going to try and keep up this blog just for myself. Of course, I've said that before and it didn't happen so who knows? I have the day off today and will do anything rather than clean my house, so here I am.

The kids are at school and it's so nice to have a little time for myself. The picture here is John at his 6th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. It's hard to believe that he was just a little baby when I started blogging. Anna is going to be 15 in three weeks and Emma will be 13 a couple of weeks afterwards. Two teenage girls; it's interesting, I'll tell you that.

Well, here's my new start. I'll try to keep it up!

The 1st day of Pre-K, John M. version 1.0

by John M.

1.) They made us go to the bathroom, like 1 million times.

2.) We had 'mooncakes' for snack. I didn't eat 'em.

3.) I didn't pee all day. I didn't have to pee. (About 5 minutes later, guess what he asked me? You got it.)

4.) Me: Did you play on the playground?
Him: Not much times.
Me: Oh, how many?
Him: Just like 3. (I'm not sure how many times would have been 'much', maybe 10 or more).

Overall, I think he had a good first day. You never can tell with him because sometimes he's a little walking ball of negativity. Still, gotta love him. Here's to a good year!