kitty

Ive been trying to use items from my stash.  I haven't been shopping for scrapping stuff in forever.  Isn't that sad that I still have enough without adding more to it??

40??

I turned 40 a few days ago!!  Can you believe it??  I have mixed emotions about this.  I mean.  Holy heck that is OLD.  But then I was sitting there the other day, contemplating what age I would go back to if I was given the chance.  Well see.....heres the thing.  None.  Of course I have made a lot of dumb mistakes that Id love to go back and re-do correctly.  Right now though....life is ok.  My kids are both at great ages.  They need me and I need them but they're learning their independence.  They are growing into their own little people and I am constantly learning from them.  Life is more about growing as people rather than CARING for their every need.

My husband and I have grown into a team rather than 2 people constantly battling for the upper hand.  We compliment each other well.  Sometimes to both of our demises but still....we work well together.

Physically of course I don't have my little college body anymore and even though I take my happy hiney to the gym daily, I have not found her yet.  I am okay with this.  I have a husband who loves me and I am still able to do what I want to do in my life.  However, I will still continue to look for that perfect body that I was so fat back in my late teens.

So I have to say....40s don't look too bad.  

Thankful for...

So on Facebook everyone takes the month of November to list the things they are thankful for.  I never participate because I guess I am just a rebel.  For that same reason, my husband and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day.  We don't need someone to tell us how to feel.  However, I am ever so grateful.  In no particular order whatsoever here is a few things of gratitude.

I am thankful for...

God, my salvation.  For Brother Bill Jones that explained it all to me so simply.
My family, not only my children and husband but my parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents...etc.  They make/made me who I am and without each and every single one of them, I'd be missing out.
My friends.  Some who I have known my entire life.  Some are new and some I have lost contact with.  But still, it is them who make my memories.
My creativity.  I love creating art, and things that are enjoyable to look at.
My love for animals.  And currently my cat, FeFe and my fish, Turkey.
My experience as an assistant.  My skills on the computer and bosses/clients that have faith in me to do well.  To invest in my training and broaden who I am both for them, and for my own personal success.
My home.  No of course it is not my dream palace.  But it is our home.  A place where we all can come back to and know we can find peace and comfort.  It is safe and sufficient for us.
My work and my husband's work.  We understand too clearly what it is like without income coming in and we are grateful for where we are now.
My health.  I am not a poster child of perfect health.  I have thyroid issues that make some things difficult, but by no means does it immobilize me and I am grateful for that.
Technology.  Even though it does zap time like magic it also helps us to connect with friends and family that we otherwise would never hear from again.   I love that I have constant contact with anyone I want to.  Making it possible to not only meet people from other countries but also talk with them via video chat or voice chat.
I am grateful for the freedom to homeschool.
For second chances.  I have done a lot of things in my life that are unforgivable.  I have done some really really really stupid things.  But friends and family and God have always given me another chance.
For my hometown of Jackson, WY.  (And over the hill in Teton Valley, ID)  It has changed a huge amount since I lived there.  It was small town USA where everyone was genuine and there was little room for drama.  But it was an experience that MANY kids will never get, including my own.  Not to mention its sheer beauty.
My freedom to drive and go where I want to go, when I want to go.  Even though I have a really really hard time seeing at night.  I have a good car and am able to get into it whenever I get a notion to.  It's paid for and its mine and I was taught at a young age to do it on my own.
Books.  I loooove to read.  As a child I hated it.  As a teen I hated it more, but only as I got into my 30s did I develop a true passion for it.  Now....I hate not having a book (or 2 or 3) going is torture.
For YouTube.  Recently I was given a new MacBookPro.  (THANK YOU MOM!!)  I have not used an Apple since computer class in elementary school.  But the wealth of information from people willing to share on YouTube is endless.
For music.  Having 2 t(w)eens in my house you can bet there is always music playing in one shape or another.  I am grateful that I semi sort of like the music my kids listen to.




Over all I am very very grateful for my life.  But, one thing I absolutely hate about myself is my sense of direction.  I have none.  I HATE this.  I only get around by memory.  Once I stop traveling the same path, my brain disregards it and no longer keeps it on file.  I hate that I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag.  I hate that I have mentally tell myself which way I will need to turn out of a parking lot to return back home.  Anyone who knows me knows I have SEVERE issues with this.  GPS and I fight constantly.  I hate that.

The very awesome thing about digs....

I know that I have been posting lots of digi cards.  I want ya all to know the cool thing about them is that you can manipulate them into what you want.  This bear image with his frame allows room then to either add text or a rubber stamped image.

Lovin me some Digis!

Can you believe that we are merely weeks away from being smack dab in the middle of the holidays??  I mean, seriously??  Holy heck this year has flown by!

January...we came back after the cruise...recovered....February....Heather was sick....we withdrew her from Public Schools...March...Career change....April...Went to Wyoming....June...Launched my own business...August...Withdrew Hannah from Public Schools...We had anniversary....October...Started training for Real Estate Personal Assistant certification.....November....I turned 40!!!! ....December....

CRAZY!!!  Even though we have had our share of turbulence, I can honestly say it has been a good year.  Though we were not completely in love with Huntsville when we first arrived, things are a little different now.  We thought that we should be on the other side of town so we searched high and low for a new apartment.  We looked at 500 I swear.  Hoping not only to be on the other side of town but also lower our rent.  Of course in this time I think we visited that many churches as well.

We found one place that we REALLY liked.  The location was AMAZING.  The price was even MORE amazing.  The problem....no vacancies.  We waited as long as we possibly could before renewing our lease here.  Our community is really nice, we are thankful for that.  They have been good to us, and truthfully it is one of the best in the area.  So...its not the perfect location, but it is ok and we call it home.  God definitely shut the door to us moving.  It was only after we gave up on that notion did we stop visiting the churches on that side of town and came closer to where we are here.  And WHALA!  I think the kids and I are convinced its the home for us, Ronnie is not so certain yet.  But that is ok.  Its just nice to have a "home" now.  As for our apartment....we truly love it here.
We feel very safe.

As far as Heather...her health is amazing!!!  She is fully recovered from the months of torture and her staff infection.  She also has a whole new outlook on her diabetes and is working constantly to keep her blood sugars under control.  She feels fantastic!  Amazing how much she has grown over the last couple of weeks.  Good things are happening for her.  I am so proud.

Hannah is doing great.  Homeschooling her is a challenge.  Her need for education and learning amazes me!  She loooves to learn.   So often times I feel like I am holding her back, because often times she is ahead of me.  She will be tested real soon to see about skipping at least one or two grades.  Her last STAR test showed that she was testing at 9th grade level.  Not so sure I want her to skip 3 grades, but I definitely think one or two is in order.

Ronnie is also doing very well.  Yes, he is still at Volvo.  Yes he is doing well there.  He has been working on his health too, getting himself back into shape.  We celebrated 20 years this year!!  Holy crap Batman!  That is a LOOOOT of years.  

So, I have a brilliant concept...if I just kept up with blogging I wouldn't have to keep updating you with life stories every time I logged back on huh?  Mwahahaha.

Anyways.  Another card here from DeeDees Digis.  Isn't it fun?

So, I wonder....Do I need to hire someone to take care of MY Social Media?

I have been so busy.  My Personal Assistant business is booming.  It has been a lot of bumps and hits on the way, but I am finally learning my limits and just how much I can take on and do very well.  Problem being....I am a "yes" girl.  I want to do everything for everyone.  But it is only after I have committed to a gazillion things do I realize that I am not doing a good job for anyone.  Most of you know that I am an ALL or NOTHING person.  Either we do it and we do it big, or we don't do it and I procrastinate my way out of it all together.  I am SLOWLY learning to say yes to less and work my tail off for that less.  I love what I do and am slowly learning the magic key to balance.

Slowly I am picking up things that I have neglected, like this blog, my commitments to DeeDees Gigi's and the friendships and events that I am passionate about.

We have been attending a new church as well.  One that we seem to really like.  It is soooo nice to have a family again.  They have tons of activities for all of us so it seems like there is always something happening there.