Spring is in the air!

Every year, we visit the wildflowers over at Shell Creek Road off of Hwy 58. There is an overabundance of wildflowers there usually around this time of year and sure enough, there was lots of them this year! Even though there were only a few varieties of flowers, it was still a beautiful sight and we enjoyed our time there (like we usually do).

We also checked out Soda Lake, which is basically a dried up lake with calcium deposits left over. So it looks like it's white sand from far away but it's basically white mud. The kids enjoyed getting caked all over with this mud, which was not something we had planned for and definitely something I can live without, but it was so well worth seeing their smiling faces! Needless to say, it was one messy ride home. :)

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS!

Probably the worst birthday ever…

I was really hoping I would feel better by the time Friday the 13th rolled around, but apparently not.  I’ve had the worst flu all week long (so much for the flu shot huh?) and it progressively got even worse.  With the flu, a tooth ache, headache, and stomach problems all day long, I just couldn’t enjoy it.  To top it all off, everyone else is sick too and Jeramy almost threw his back out and has been pretty much out of commission today too.  So yeah …it’s officially the worst birthday ever. 

BUT I got to spend time with my wonderful family.  That’s all that matters, right?

Happy Anniversary honey!

Today, Jeramy and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary. It was such an uneventful day due to the family being sick but at least we got to spend 2 days together beforehand. On Thursday, we headed down to Pismo and ate at Spy Glass Inn for lunch (used B1G1 coupon). What a great view, even though it was raining the whole time. Then after we headed over to Centaur Resort & Spa in Arroyo Grande, which Jeramy thought was a joke at first since the spa is located at someone's house (well a bed & breakfast really). I won a $200 Spafinder.com gift certificate from a contest not too long ago so we used that for a couple's 60-minute massage plus a 30-min facial for each of us. It was really nice. We even got to sit in a steam room for 30 mins after all was said and done. Diane (co-owner) is a super nice lady and she really made us feel comfortable. It was really neat to hear thunderstorms and rain pattering on the roof during our session. It just made it that much more memorable.

We finally checked into our hotel at San Luis Bay Inn in Avila (thanks to my loving inlaws for their present!) at 6 pm and took a much needed nap. We didn't sleep much the night before since the kids kept us up with their sickies. :( Finally at 8 pm, we headed over to Old Vienna Restaurant in Shell Beach, a really unique German restaurant that was surprisingly really nice inside with its indoor waterfall and international flags hanging from the ceilings. We were the only ones there but we didn't mind it at all since we appreciated the quiet surroundings. Being with a 4 and 2 year old all day, makes you appreciate the silence, that's for sure.

The food and service was AWESOME. I honestly can list this is one of my top 10 favorite restaurants on the Central Coast. The prices were reasonable as well which we didn't even pay full price since we had a Restaurant.com gift certificate. (We're all about saving money!)

The next morning we headed over to Zorro's Cafe in Shell Beach and had breakfast. It's a little itty bitty place, but the food was great. And ofcourse, we also had a coupon for that place so we had to try it out. It's worth trying when you have a B1G1 free coupon!

Then ofcourse we included a little shopping towards the end of our mini vaca and headed home to receive grumpy and really sick kids from Grandpa and Grandma. Boy, were they CRANKY! I'm glad we got to spend a little bit of time alone together. We are truly blessed to be able to get away at least once every week or every other week to bond. I love our time together. The best part is that we actually really enjoy each other's company and look forward to all the times we get to spend together.

I love you Jeramy! Here's to 5 years of marriage and many, many, many more years to come!

Hooked on phonics...

Well not really. But I have been hooked on reading again. I just started reading "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and it's good so far. It's funny how I can relate so much to the main character, Rebecca. I remember once upon a time when I was just as careless with money and just didn't accept my responsibilities. Like what, really, I have to pay credit cards back? haha.

I'm not saying that I'm no longer a shopaholic, but I am more aware of bargains and sales and all in between. I don't throw money around like I used to and definitely don't spend much on myself these days. But like everyone else, I still want nice things for the house, comfortable clothes for the family, delicious food on the table, so I am just much smarter with the money I do spend.

Anyway, back to the book. It's set in England so there are a lot of terms you have to get used to (like loo for restroom, bloody for damn, etc) but it's a pretty easy read. I am trying to get to the end so I can go see the movie in a couple of weeks. I am betting Isla Fisher will make a good Rebecca. She's so darn cute.

Bath time is fun!

The kids still take baths together and it's so cool seeing them play together and having fun. Some nights they end up fighting a lot more than playing but they are just as cute. They have their own spots in the bath tub (Connor's closest to the faucet) but now that they are older, they lie down together and "float" (which they think is swimming). It's really cute listening to them talk out loud when their ears are under water. How I wish this could last forever...

DO'S AND DON'TS FOR 2009

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day..
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake..
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your resent happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Share this with everyone you care about.

Look what's happening for my birthday!

Ugh, back to reality...

So today I woke up and realized we were back in school again. The kids and I take a Mommy and Me class on Monday mornings and we were about to miss it, if I hadn't remembered like 20 mins before class started (at 9 am). I hate having to wake up, get ready and actually be somewhere before 10 am. I might be a stay at home, but I still enjoy vacation.

Now I'm gonna start working on organizing the house. It's fun being able to do whatever I please to our home. It is just so time-consuming and I'd much rather hop on the computer and rampage through the web. But blah, back to reality. Back to waking up and actually having to be somewhere on time. Yuck.

Addicted to Twilight series...

Oh my gosh. It's been a long time since I've been addicted to reading any book series. I mean, I just couldn't put them down! I just read Twilight and New Moon within 3 1/2 days. Now I'm eagerly awaiting for the arrival of Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. Stephenie Meyer is a great writer and I thank her for my new addiction! The books are super easy to read and the characters are so easy to get attached to. I seriously have gotten lost in their world for a couple days and I haven't felt like this in ages. I love it.

Thanks Corinne for the books. Now I understand what all the obsession is all about. My sister Charmaine has seen the movie 3x (or maybe even more by now) and was so anxiously awaiting for my other sister Christine to finish the other two books. Now I know what you guys were talking about. I am hooked!

Can't wait to see the movie on Thursday with you Corinne!

Goals for the New Year...

I usually make New Year's resolutions but who am I fooling by saying that I stick with them by the time March comes around? I usually work better with short-term goals so I will start marking dates off on my calendar. As for general goals, I thought it'd be easier for me to attain these goals by visualizing them on-screen. I vowed to start up a new journal again this year as I am really missing writing. Typing is just too much work and plus, I have great penmanship. LOL. So I bought a pretty purple journal to begin writing again...but I have also vowed to keep up with this blog. I must post something at least once a week! Now on to more important goals!

Beginning January 4th...

HEALTH & WELLNESS

- Every year, I manage to lose weight but gain it right back after a few months of hard work due to some "special" day. I must admit, I don't mind that process. I love to eat so I can't NOT indulge when good food is present. So I'm not gonna fool myself and say yes, I will eat healthy food 100% of the time. That's just stupid, as I know I will fail on every birthday, holiday, party that exists. So my goal is to eat healthy every normal day of the week and mildly splurge on days that are considered "special". The rule is to not make up days as being "special" but only consider those that everyone else will consider special (such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays). I will continue to follow the South Beach Diet (SBD) plan as I have, since August of '08. It is the only lifestyle I know I can lose belly fat within days. I followed Phase 1 to the T for 2 weeks (without exercising, just to test the theory of losing the belly fat) and it really works! I was doomed ofcourse when we went on our 7-day cruise to Mexico at the end of September but it's so easy to get right back on the bandwagon on the SBD. I am honestly thankful I found this healthy lifestyle as I was at my wits end after trying several diets that didn't do much to my waistline, even after working out 5x a week. So SBD...you rock!

- Starting this week, I will be heading to the gym 3-5x a week and work on getting fit again. It's been weeks since I've worked out and my body shows. It's amazing how quickly your body can turn into flab in like 3 days with no workouts at my age. I've never quite had that problem before until after Isabella was born. But luckily, my muscle memory comes right back after just a few days of working out. Plus, I need to incorporate more walks with Jer and more outdoor activities for the kids. I WILL get my butt in gear again.

Short-term goals:
Jan-March: Run a 5K in March
Bi-Weekly: Go on a hike at least once every 2 weeks
April-August: Be absolutely tone by the time we go to Hawaii (probably in August)

FAMILY & FRIENDS

- I would love to be able to spend more time with family and friends. God has blessed us with Jer's work schedule so that we are able to spend 3-4 days each week together (though that leaves me like a single mom for the days that he is working). So the goal is to spend more QUALITY time together, like going on dates at least once every 2 weeks with Jer and take the kids out on a special outing every month (Chuck E Cheese, museums, zoo, etc).

- I would like to build on the relationships I already have and plan to spend more time with them. I have offered my idea of game night once per month to our circle of friends so hopefully that will become a new tradition this year. I am determined to bring all my friends together, in hopes that we can all hang out together all the time as it's proven to be very difficult to split time with different sets of friends. I guess it was a blessing in disguise then when I lost a handful of friends this past year. Just kidding!!!!

- I plan on spending more time with my mom, dad, sisters and brother this year. The past year has been a difficult one for my parents & siblings and I would like to offer my love and support to them as much as I can after all that has happened. Just being with them makes me happy so I will make more of an effort to spend time with them as much as I can. The only thing that sucks about it is that everyone is spread out throughout Cali (Sacramento, Thousand Oaks, Valencia, Orange County and San Diego).

- I plan to return phone calls as soon as possible. This proves to be my most difficult challenge every year as there never seems to be the best time to talk on the phone, especially with 2 crazy banshees playing in the background. So let's try this one AGAIN. Oh yeah, I'll add emails to that too. I love reading them but writing back is a whole another issue. I'll work on that.

MONEY

- The holidays are over and there really isn't any more excuses to waste money hastily. I am a true shopper at heart and though you can say I am quite addicted to shopping, I am not addicted to feeling financially strapped. With the economy's loom over the horizon, I really need to be more careful with my spending! I don't like stressing out my husband so I will retreat from my impulsive behaviors and start tomorrow. It's too late for the last 2 days already. (insert half-hearted laugh here)

- Coupons, coupons, coupons! I still have to buy food and household junk to maintain the home so I plan to buy things only when on a significant sale and especially when coupons are available. I started the grocerygame.com a few weeks ago and I'm addicted to saving money whenever possible. It definitely fulfills the aching need to shop and it feels great being able to spend much less than what I normally would spend for the things I need. I highly recommend this system. Please use me as your reference when signing up (megaland@yahoo.com). It's so wonderful to hear the check-out ladies say "Wow, you've saved 80% on your groceries today. That's amazing!" It truly is.

- Eating out is probably the best leisurely activity we participate in each week. I realized how much money we spend on food each month and it just makes me sick to my stomach (literally). The goal is to NOT eat out every week, maybe twice a month at the most. I love to cook anyway so I can try more recipes out this way.

- We need to lower our monthly bills somehow. I will work on finding ways to do that this very week.

PERSONAL TIME

- I need to get in bed by midnight every single night. As I get older, I realize how badly my brain and body needs my beauty sleep. It's important to have a keen mind when dealing with a 4 and 2 year old on a daily basis. Tonight however is an exception as it obviously is past midnight.

- Less time on the computer! I love my computer. I love internet access. However, I love myself and family/friends more. I waste waaaaaayyyy to much time on my PC and will vow to turn it off every night before getting into bed as it's too tempting to keep it on for the next morning. 3 hours max. That's the goal. Yikes, that seems so little of a number but I must focus on other projects...like cleaning! LOL.

- I need to start working on little projects around the house. Our home seems complete but it's time to start moving the kids in their own bedrooms and transitioning the garage to our new office. Each room is also starting to pile with up with CRAP (mostly my fault) and I need to start condensing the never-ending collections of I don't even know what anymore. I admit I'm a pack rat...must must must get rid of stuff!

- Start my own little garden this spring!!! I'm researching on what varieties I will include in my garden. I will definitely include green onions, tomatoes, herbs, and squash. I've been wanting to do this for years, so I'll be elated once it's all done.

- Read a new book series every 2 months. I just started the new Twilight series and I am hooked!!!! I miss getting lost in the world of books. I've been reading several books at a time, but all of them were informational, based on personal well-being, true stories or plain ole magazines. I plan to start reading the Shopaholic series and Nicholas Sparks books this year. I also am gonna start paying attention to the Oprah Book Club and see if anything sparks my interest there.

I've got soooooo much more to add to my list. But I will have to bid farewell for now as the bed is calling my name...

Happy New Year!

Wow...it's 2009. It seems like yesterday that I was hearing "Party like it's 1999" over and over again on the radio. And look at us now, 10 years later. It's super crazy how fast time really flies.

2009 is going to be a busy year. We'll be traveling a lot like usual and hopefully we will be able to continue this for years to come. Our 1st trip will be to the snow (hopefully next week). It will be the first time we're bringing the kids, so they will be very excited. I already bought all their snow gear (oh wait, that reminds me, I need to get them gloves). Next will be a special trip to somewhere (don't know where yet) in February for our 5-year anniversary, my 32nd birthday and for Valentine's. February is a really full month for my poor hubby. :) In early March, I will be going away for a weekend with my sisters to celebrate birthdays and just being together. It will officially be our 1st "just us" trip together. It should be amazing. Then as soon as I come back, I think Jer is gonna take Connor to San Fran for their annual trip to visit friends and go to the Zoo. Isabella and I will surely find something to do while they're gone. Then at the end of March, Jer and I will be traveling with his sister and her hubby to Palm Springs for 5 days while the kids stay with Grandpa and Grandma. Phew, to think, that's only the first 3 months of traveling! We're still trying to figure out when we're going to Hawaii...but we are definitely intending to go. It will be our first time going together! I am so looking forward to that! So this month, my goal is to start planning out our trips from April til the holidays...

There are just so many great things happening this year. Jer's sister will be having her baby in June, Connor will be attending kindergarten (yikes!), I might be heading back to work (or school...undecided still), Jer will be working a new position, the kids will be starting new activities, and so much more. I am actually really excited about the New Year, as I can begin "fresh" again with my goals and will work hard to attain them. I think I've pretty much reached all my goals in 2008 so I HOPE that 2009 will just be as great, if not, I will MAKE it great no matter what.

Anyhow, I wish everyone a wonderful new year and hope & pray that 2009 only brings great peace and joy!

Reflection Questions for 2008

I got this from SimpleMom.net. I haven't really given a lot of what's happened in the past year much thought so it will be interesting to try to answer these questions. Why don't you try them yourself?

Reflection Questions for 2008

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
We bought our 1st house! It's such a pretty little 3BR/2BA house with a great backyard for the kids to run around in. I love where we live and look forward to all the wonderful memories we will make in our new home!

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Working 50+ hrs per week as an Event Coordinator for the Zoo (while taking care of the kids at the same time) for less money than what I expected.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
The Mexican Riviera cruise my in-laws took us on in September!

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
Having to pay for my dental implants ($5,000) at the last-minute due to an emergency.

5. Pick three words to describe 2008.
Fun, adventurous, and stressful.

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2008 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).
Stressed, confused, and happy.

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2008 (again, without asking).
Fun, adventurous, and stressful.

8. What were the best books you read this year?
Crazy Love by Chan (the most recent one I read) was by far the most thought-provoking and life-changing book I've read in the past year. I honestly don't remember the others after reading that one.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
Jeramy, my kids, my sisters, my inlaws, and my girls (Corinne, Ling, Sammie, the Jen(n)s, and Jess).

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
I became a true stay-at-home mom in May. I was always working (ie, volunteering) on small projects on the side and focused on those things rather than just spending time with my kids.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I usually talk about everything else, but never about what really bothers ME. I have had enough breakdowns this year to realize that it's OK to cry, to let it out and not internalize everything.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
I have become more spiritual in a sense that I am trying to build a more intimate relationship with God.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
I gained 10 lbs last holiday season and weighed 162 lbs at the beginning of 2008, fasted for 5 days and lost quite a few lbs then gained a few back. But in August, I discovered the South Beach Diet and have managed to keep my weight around 140-145 lbs. It has been REALLY challenging, considering the cruise and all the traveling we've done in the last few months but I intend to stick with this lifestyle for good.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I have lost some friends this year which was a really painful process. However, I have learned a valuable lesson...to never take things for granted. I've also given every person I've met the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are good from the get-go, but over time, I find that I am wrong. I need to listen to my instincts from the very beginning and try to build better relationships with people who are worth my time and effort. Fortunately, we have created our own little "Sex in the City" group and I have gotten closer with these girls this past year and am looking forward to becoming even better friends with them in 2009.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
Believe it or not, it's the kids/guest bathroom. I managed to keep that bathroom clean almost every day since we've moved in! I don't know if it was exactly "enjoyable" but I enjoyed the fact that it was the one room in the house that was clean the majority of the time.

16. What was your most challenging area of home management?
The kitchen. I hate washing dishes, cleaning the counters, throwing out the trash, etc. But I like cooking and eating, so go figure.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Working for the Zoo.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Traveled and spent a lot of time with family/friends! We went to LA in Feb for our 4th anniversary, enjoyed the concerts and festivities at the Fair in the summer, went to San Clemente in June for my brother's graduation, had family/friends come visit in August for our housewarming, went on the cruise with J's parents in Sept, had Lefse reunion in Phoenix & early Thanksgiving with my mom & bro in Laguna Niguel in November, and celebrated early Christmas at my sister Charmaine's new house (which she purchased a month after we bought ours) in San Diego in December.

19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
That friends come and go and that I'm old enough now to pick & choose who my friends are. We are ADULTS, so let's act like it. We're not in high school anymore!

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2008 for you.
Whoo-rah!

How to stay young as the years go by...

I received this in my email today. I think it's perfect to start out the New Year with...

Harvey Mackay's Column This Week

How to stay young as the years go by

Youth, it has been said, is wasted on the young. That would be a travesty if it were true. Fortunately, youth is not only a time of life; it's also a state of mind. I stopped counting after my 39th birthday, but I still consider myself young. And I intend to stay that way!

Having a youthful outlook and attitude is possible at any age, just as being an old fogey can start at a very young age. As I said, I choose youth!

Want to stay young at heart? Here are some ideas to help you:

*Keep only cheerful, positive friends. You can pick your friends, and I like to choose those who are positive and people who challenge me. They make me feel good. They don't drag me down or make me angry at the world. Negative people see the difficulty in every opportunity, while positive people see the opportunity in every difficulty.

*Keep learning. I think Henry Ford put it best when he said, "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." I've always said that you should be in school all your life—never stop learning.

*Enjoy the simple things. Don't forget to take time to enjoy the things that you like to do—go for a walk or to the movies, read a good book, watch a favorite TV show, spend time with your family. You have to have a good balance in life.

*Laugh often. Starting your day with a good laugh, or at least a big smile, is as beneficial to your health as it is to your mood. Scientific studies at Northwestern University and Fordham University concluded that laughter benefits the heart, lungs, stomach and other organs. It relaxes tensions, changes attitude, and increases the body's natural painkillers. And it has no harmful side effects.

*Stay in shape. Exercise is good for your mind as well as your body. Studies show that healthy employees have decreased absenteeism, better performance and improved morale. I've always felt that a healthy workforce is a productive workforce. The human body is the only machine that wears out faster if it is not used.

*Cherish your health. There is nothing more important than your health. Stay in shape so you can improve your chance for good health. If you're healthy, do what you can to preserve it. It your health is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

*Be happy. You are responsible for your own happiness. We sometimes convince ourselves that life will be better after we get a better job, make more money, get married, have a baby, buy a bigger house and so on. Yet the accomplishment of any of those events may not make any difference at all. There is no magic secret to happiness. Happiness starts in your head.

*Don't stress out. You can't escape stress, but you can avoid creating unnecessary stress. You just need to find a stress reliever. Mine is sports—going to a sporting event, playing golf, swimming or jogging. If the stress just won't go away, then you have to make some changes in your life that might be more stressful in the short-term but healthier in the long run.

*Don't take guilt trips. Rather, take a trip to some location or maybe it's just the mall, but escape occasionally. I remember a story about the worry tree. At night an accountant would go home from work and place all his worries on a tree in his front yard. The next morning he would pick up those worries on his way to work, but surprisingly, they weren't as heavy the next day.

*Visualize yourself as youthful and with endless energy. I learned years ago that visualization is the most powerful means of attaining personal goals. Visionary people can achieve whatever they want by determining a plan to attain it and expecting positive results. It doesn't do the planning and it doesn't anticipate the obstacles. It gives you a real idea of what is possible, if only you want it bad enough. Vision is not so much what you think as how you think. If you can visualize it, you can make it happen.

Mackay's Moral: If you want to stay youthful, stay useful.

Merry Christmas!

CLICK HERE!
(view full screen, change speed to slowest and hit play)

2nd Annual Holiday Party

The holiday season means so much more when you're surrounded by friends and family. Jeramy and I started a tradition last year by hosting a Christmas party at our home for some of our closest friends and I hope that it continues for many more years to come. Having it in our new house makes it even more special. Thanks to all our friends who celebrated with us!

(I'm sad that I didn't take too many pics tonight. Oh well.)

Snow!

Well kind of. We haven't taken the kids to the snow yet (we plan to soon). Every time I get a huge box filled with styrofoam, I let the kids play with it and they love it. I hate having to clean-up after, but it's so worth watching them break it all apart and throw it all up in the air. It's close to the real thing...without the cold, freezing sensation.

Prayer for Serenity

I feel like I needed this today (and these past few weeks really)...

God, grant me the serenity to

Accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;

Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it;

Trusting that You will make all things right

If I surrender to your will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen

Re-evaluation...

I had to take a step back from blogging this past month because of a comment a friend made from one of my posts. She made me feel as if I didn't have a right to post my feelings online, for everyone to see. Although I can see her point (and point taken), I have to admit that it really threw me into a loop. I am a pretty open & emotional individual. But at the same time, I am also a pretty private person. I am the kind of person that needs to vent, to speak my feelings and opinions, and am pretty much a "tell it like it is" type of person. However, I do not intend anything in a malicious or hurtful manner. I don't even know why I feel the need to have to explain myself here but I just had the urge to do so. I don't want to feel guilty for posting something here that comes from my heart. I shouldn't have to feel guilty.

I subscribe to Today's Inspiration and the Quote of the Day says:

"Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for truth."
– Benjamin Disraeli

Such perfect timing to receive that in my email today...

Happy 18th Birthday Ian!

I can't believe my brother's now 18 years old. I remember the day he was born as if it was just yesterday. I was 13 years old and was very excited to finally have a little brother. Now he's graduated from HS, is (somewhat) in college and getting ready for the big bad world out there. Here's to you bro! Hope you have a great day!!

Seal's new CD out today!