~T.G.I.F.~

I am tired this morning b/c A.J. was up at 2 am not able to sleep. The allergies are very bad right now in North Texas and he could not stop his poor nose. So, it was Benedryl at 2 am, then 30 mins. back to sleep and up at 6:45 am for school. But today I have a busy day....





I am getting my hair done - Yea! - and have to get all the goodies ready for Z.M.'s birthday party Saturday. I finally found a Transformers cake at Walmart (after searching every non-walmart grocery story) which rocks b/c Z.M. LOVES all things Transformers. I remember when my little brother played with Transformers and Ninja Turtles back in the late 80's. What was old is new again.





Thought of the day: "Most people are about as happy as they make up thier minds to be."


- Abraham Lincoln

I love this picture. When I got home from work one day the sun had just dipped behind this lone dark cloud. I ran and grabbed my camera to capture the glory of this moment.

T. G. I. F.

My Baby is 7 today!

Seven long years ago today I walked into the regional hospital to give birth to my second son. A.J. was only 20 months old at the time and did not really understand what was going on. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law came in town to stay with him. I was very tired of being pregnant and was induced a day before my actual due date, I guess it was easier for my doctor that way. At the same time another gal was also being induced, we had the same doctor but it was her first baby.

Since I had seemingly just done this I knew what to expect and before long (about 8 am) labor was underway. I requested my IV drugs around 10 am, which was denied b/c I was already too far along. At 11:15 am my Dad and Hubby went to get some lunch and not more than 5 minutes later the gal with the big giant needle shows up to give me my epidural. My dr came in around 1:30 pm just in time to catch really. He made jokes about my baby going to need a haircut, ha-ha, as I am giving birth. Well, twenty minutes later I had a healthy 8 pound 6 oz baby boy.

My Grandma about fell off the sofa when she saw Z.M. for the first time. "You gave birth to your father," she said. Apparently he looked just like my Dad, hair and all. (And for that matter still looks like him - a good cross b/t my dad and my hubby). It's okay - I find them both very handsome.

I just love both my boys so much. And I thank God everyday for the blessings they bring to my life.

Thought of the day: "Who, being loved, is poor?" - Oscar Wilde

We must not put more value on what makes us rich - $$$, job, car - but what really enriches our lives more - family, friends, passion for life...

I will have a wonderful Sept. 27th, I hope you will too.

Lunch with Johnny Blaze

Today - like every Wednesday - I have a lunch date with my 80-something grandparents. Each visit I get told the same ole stories I have heard since I was young. And I love it. Today's we talked about Lucky dog (their bull dog from the 1950's) and how silly or sweet pets can be, my cousin Mike with the 4 sons (eek!) who has to commute 2 hours every day and also about when my Grandma worked in a bakery that made oven-baked fresh bread daily...yum. Can't get freshness like that any more. See, my Grandpa "Johnny Blaze" (we call him) is/was a very honored Chef working mostly in Chicago and Dallas. (He retired like 15 times). He can cook or make ANYTHING! I unfortunately cannot cook worth a lick. My dad also went to culinary school then the army then to college, so now he does more of the administrative aspect.... anyway, when I met my now husband back in the mid-nineties and he heard that my grandfather and my Father's were both chefs - he thought he had died and gone to heaven. Well, guess what???? Was he so surprised that I do not cook. *First, I was never allowed in the kitchen b/c I "got in the way". *Second, when one is not invited to the kitchen, one does not care what happens in the kitchen and *Third, when one does not care about what happens in the kitchen, one does not learn how to cook. So, on my behalf it was their fault. This is my Grandpa and me when I was about 2yrs. I was always his favorite granddaughter....which was funny b/c I am his only granddaughter. I do love them so much and enjoy every lunch date with them b/c I know that they will not be here forever no matter how much I wish it. It is especially nice to get to know them on an adult level, something I was able to do with my other set of Grandparents who both died when I was a youth. My "Johnny Blaze" is so special to me.

Anyway... Thought of the day: "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Norman MacEwan

We can give of our time, our attention, our patience, our love and our hope. We can give to save the multitudes, or the one lonely soul. We can give our used things, our new gifts or our of our past earnings. But most of all we can give by how we change the lives of others. Peace be with you this eve.

Thought of the day: "Well done is better than well said." - Ben Franklin

A different way of saying "actions speak louder than words".
I am a big believer is respecting your elders and being considerate of all people. I was raised this way. Last week I was heading into Target and spied an elderly lady putting her purchases into the trunk of her car. She was parked in the Handicapped parking and appeared to be having trouble with her things. On the bottom of her cart she had a large pack of bottled water. I stopped and asked if I could help her where others just passed her by. Her sweet face lit up with gratefulness because she told me that she just had heart surgery and was not sure how she was going to get it in her trunk. I helped her out of the kindness of my heart and felt joy in my soul because I knew I had aided this lady even when others would not. I think that no matter what I could have said to her could not have meant more than my willingness to assist her when she needed it. My own grandparents are in their 80's and I feel blessed to have them still living and sharing their lives with me. If they had been the ones to have needed help that day at Target I would sincerely hope that someone would have helped them. It is doubtful because we live in a world that is self-centered and hurried. I did not help that lady because it would make me feel good, I did it because I believe that by being a good person and doing good deeds is better than only thinking of myself, no matter how easy it is to do so.

"Hero's" was awesome last night. I also watched "Chuck" which was really interesting and "CSI Miami" was typical. And of couse more Football. My Dad's team, the Saints, lost. Oh well. Tonight I had choir practice so I will miss most of the new season premiers. I am looking forward to Wednesday. Actually, I am curious to know when "LOST" will return. That was one show I did not miss.
Anyway... I'm off to get ready for the day now that I have finished my coffee. Things must get done, and errends must be ran. Have a great Tuesday.

Actually I am glad it's Monday!

Even though most don't like Monday's - I most certainly do. Actually if you ask any stay at home mom if they like Monday's the answer would be YES. The hubby goes to work, the kids go to school and that leaves the rest of the day to do what I want/need to do. At least for me.

I was happy that all my football teams won: OU, LSU and the Dallas Cowboys! However my son's basketball team lost their game, again. He seems to be one of the only players on the team that actually is playing basketball, the rest are there b/c their parents make them. Oh well.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: "Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden.

I like this quote b/c so many people live in a world of "cannot" (especially my youngest son). He is constantly saying "I can't do it." Which drives me crazy. If you convince yourself you "cannot" do something - then therefore you cannot. If one lives in a world of doubt then how can one expect good things to happen. I am a very optimistic person and strongly believe anything is accomplishable if one sets their mind to it. And.... for some there is a big difference between "cannot" and "will not". That is for another day.

Tomorrow one of my favorite authors (Suzanne Enoch) is releasing a 4th book in a series (Sam Jellicoe) and I am very excited. I love to read and am currently reading novels by Liz Carlyle. I like romance novels, not cheezy ones, and historicals too. I have read all of Cathy Maxwell's books, whom is also one of my favorites. I got a chance to meet both her and S. Enoch at a book signing when they came into town for the RWA conference. There were plenty of other authors who I would have to have seen but did not get a chance. (See above picture of C. Maxwell & Me).

Anyway... Today "Hero's" premieres. I am so glad that good TV is back, I am so tired of reruns and watching my hubby's favorite channels (ESPN or CourTv). I had no choice but to watch 3 straight days of football and tonight I will find myself another tv to watch. Since we got a new tv in our bedroom I have no say-so on what is watched on it. The only shows my dh watches on it are in HD, and luckily our 10pm news now broadcasts in HD or I would never know if it is going to be hot or hotter or when they tease us with fall. However this year we have had our fair share of rain so I am not complaining about that.

September is almost over! And we are on the downhill slide to Christmas - eek. The only things my kids want for C-mas are things pertaining to Transformers. Last year it was Lego's and Star Wars...

Have a great Monday! Christi

New Here!

Every day I sit down at this computer with a tidal list of things to do and today starting a blog was one of them. I am writing a novel (recreationally) which takes a good part of my day while my kids are at school. Other than that I am a typical stay at home mom: cleaning, errands, cooking, etc...

So, to anyone who reads this.... Have a great Friday.