Inspirational Thoughts

Monday, November 28, 2011

Oh, Christmas Tree....

It was time to go out and search for the perfect Christmas tree. I took Brie and Chelsey out so they could enjoy the search with me.
I thought it would be easier to drive but Brie wanted to ride her horse. You can see who won.
Chelsey led the way up the mountains to the highest peaks!
While Brie searched high and low for the perfect tree.
There were little trees....
bigger trees....
even snow covered trees.
I almost got lost in the forest.
Fortunately the girls got a snow "mobile" and came to my rescue. I was so grateful.

After a long and exhausting day, it was time to go home. Thanks for sharing our day in the forest searching for the perfect tree.
The End

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Six Months and Counting

Here I am again. My very busy life hasn't gotten any slower, however, I still wanted to post my newest pictures of my transformation. Here goes.I'm getting totally physicked about this new and improving me! It's beyond wonderful to be able to do things I haven't been able to do for the longest time. You tend to forget what you weren't able to do until you can do it again. Life is getting better and better!!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

A "Tale"

Once upon a time there lived a little boy. He was smart, witty, energetic, fun-loving, and as cute as a bug. He had incredible potential and dreamed every little boy's dreams. Someday he was going to be an Air Force pilot. He was going to get married and have a family. He was going to have a son; he would name the baby Leo. He and his family would live together in a nice house with a tree house in the backyard. He was going to be a good man and accomplish great things in his life. He had all the potential in the world....

Unfortunately life was much more cruel than some could even begin to imagine. After years of abuse, mistreatment, emotional neglect, being told he'd never amount to anything, and a complete lack of support, he began to lose hope. Not completely at first... but a little bit more each day. He was fading away.... Eventually the pain he was living with became more than he could handle. He had to get away. There was nothing left. He was 15 when he gave up. Finally he could be free... even if it was only for a brief period of time. He had done his best to do the right things. There was nothing left to hold on to. He turned to something he had never tried before. He began using drugs to escape the ugly world he lived in. This life would become his new "reality." His life has been in turmoil ever since. To be more accurate, his life has been in turmoil since the day he was born. He has had more heartache than seems fair. This tale doesn't have a "And they all lived happily ever after" ending. Far from it.

This "tale" is about my little brother, Tony. Let me say this as clearly as I can. I LOVE MY BROTHER. I have always loved him. I will always love him. Some may see him and harshly judge him. To them I say step off! You haven't got a clue as to who he was. You only see who he "is" today. You are missing the man he is inside of the shell. Just as you, he is a SON of God. You are no better than he in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Perhaps, just perhaps, Tony is better than you are. He isn't judging you as you are judging him. He hasn't said anything about the people you are. He hasn't said "You had your chance." He hasn't tried to take something from you that means more to you than life itself. AND he'd never try to exclude you from maintaining a relationship with the people you adore.My brother did accomplish something great in his life. He did become a father. He did have a son. He did name him Leo. And Tony did the best he could to be a good daddy. Don't ever doubt that FACT for a moment. Tony loves Leo with all his heart. AND just as important, Leo loves his daddy. That is a bond that will NEVER be broken. Nor should it be. Right now Tony is about to lose parental "rights" to Leo. It's a very long story and very painful on many levels. Suffice it to say that I'm so thankful to not be walking in my brother's shoes. I cannot imagine the pain he is experiencing. It's got to be terrible.I had the pleasure of meeting Leo today. He is a wonderful little boy. He is 9 years old now. Leo was able to fly in for a visit with his extended family and meet all of us. It was great. The moment I saw him in person, I saw Tony when he was that age. It was bittersweet. I was taken back to when we were kids playing cowboys and indians. Leo has his father's coloring and gorgeous eyes. He's also very smart and witty. You can see that Tony did a good job parenting for the first 7 1/2 years of Leo's life (Tony dropped Leo off with a family about a year and a half ago).Leo has a tender heart and dreams just like his daddy did. Tony still dreams... of that I am sure. His dream now is for Leo to have a better life than he is able to provide for him. Don't mistake that for lack of caring or not loving Leo. That couldn't be further from the truth. Tony wants what's best for Leo.Tony, I give you my word. I will continue to do my best to make sure Leo is placed with the family that we (me, Cindy, and Teresa) feel is best suited to care for and love Leo. That family is the Douglas family... Lu and Steve. I know how much Lu loves you. She and Steve will do their very best for Leo and will never try to shut you out of his life. We will do our best to see that Leo's story does have a "happily ever after" ending.

Monday, November 7, 2011

My Very Busy Life


Calgon... take me away (and drop me in a tub with this hunk of a man). I need a brief vacation. I've decided this is completely necessary in order for me to maintain my sanity. Anyone out there agree with my theory? If you don't agree I frankly don't want to know. Keep your thoughts to yourself. I need to dream and dream big.

Ok, the dreaming is over. Back to reality. Life has been totally B-U-S-Y these past several weeks. I cannot believe it's already November. Where has the time gone? I feel like I've been swept away by a whirlwind since I started working as a PCA. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love what I'm doing. I just have no life anymore.I wake up and get ready for work. I get off work (PCA) and go to work (Home Healthcare). I get off work and go home. I get home from work and get things ready for the next morning so I can go back to work. You get the message? I work a lot. I'm averaging 67 hours a week now. That's crazy! I was having major trouble working 20-25 hours a week 6 months ago. Now I can work 67. Incredible. It's also nice being able to get caught up on expenses. In this economy every cent counts. I'm blessed to have the employment I have and I'll work as much as I can while I have to chance.

Other than that life continues to go well. Emile has moved out and is living with her boyfriend. I'm not thrilled with that, however, I must let her do what she's going to do. It's her life and she's going to have to live it however she sees fit. Brie is doing well and has adjusted to high school just fine. She's still a complete social butterfly. Imagine that.

I guess that's it for now. Sorry there's not much more to report. It is what it is though. Adios.