When you least expect it...

Yep, that's right. When you least expect it, the tide changes and pieces start to fall into place.

It amazes me how powerful it can be to "Let go and let God". So many times those words seem to be just that. Words. When you truly place your burdens and joys in his hands the most powerful things unfold. That has been my experiences this past week. I still have some very personal things going on in my life that I am still unable to share here.

It is just to personal to chance typing my feelings out here for the whole world to read. Who knows who may be lurking out there on the world wide web........But God willing one day, yes one day God will have resolved the current situation and I will be able to share. Until then I would be so grateful for any prayers for our family.

Texas Heat

Oh my, we were at a softball tournament all day. The temperature rose to 102 degrees and the girls played four games today. I am wiped out and tired. Sometimes I could do without this Texas heat!

You just really never know...

Really. You just really never know what the future holds. Tomorrow could be your last day or even today. We all know this but yet keep on trucking along with our busy schedules, work and personal.

Sometimes it takes a tragic happening in our lives to bring us back to the real purpose for our being on Earth. Today was one of those days. We lost a wonderful coworker in a tragic accident. Out of respect to my coworker I am not going to share the full story but instead share with you to say...stop and take a moment to smell the roses, tell the ones you love that you love them and how special they are, spend time with your family, do a good deed for someone, and have Jesus in your heart.

Fatigue

There I am in all of my tiredness. I have been so incredibly tired lately. For one thing this heat really zaps me. The past several days the temperature has reached 100 degrees. Just to hot for me. So, I am planning to go to bed early tonight. I have been saying this and then the time gets away from me. Just like last night, I told myself I was going to bed no later than 10pm and next thing I know, it is 1:30am. *sighs* Well, tonight I am turning in early no matter what!

Fried Green Tomatoes

Yep. Fried. I cooked fried green tomatoes for dinner tonight. I love these pretty little fried green things! I have not had them in so long. I only sliced and cooked three so that I would not eat to much. Three for the whole family that is. I also took some fresh frozen squash out of the fridge that I had blanched and froze a couple of weeks ago. *yum*

The date

Do you see that? The biggest freakin' date you could ever see on a blog? I don't know how I managed to do that and I can't seem to manage to get it fixed! I have fooled around with it until I realize it is time for me to step away and try another day. *sigh*

Today has been a busy day playing catch up with work. I am headed out to water the flowers, do a little laundry and lay down for the night..... *yawns and heads outside*

St. Louis, MO

Hey, sorry I was missing for a couple of days. We went to our family reunion outside of St. Louis, MO. We just got home and I am so incredibly tired. More details later!

149.6

Yep! That is what Mr. Scale said to me this morning.... 149.6lbs. Thank goodness:) and YAY me!

Have you ever blogged about something very personal only to have it used against you?

“…but, at long last, I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all…I believe we would be happier to go back to simpler living and more direct thinking. It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest and living close to nature. There are no hothouse blossoms that can compare in beauty and fragrance with my bouquet of wild flowers.”
— Laura Ingalls Wilder

~~~~WOW~~~~

I cannot believe everything that I got accomplished today. I seriously don't know if I can really think of everything to share it with you!!!!
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I woke up early, put in a load of laundry, and read some blogs. It is amazing you know, the internet. When I think back to the days of not having the internet, how did we do it?? The library? Or did we simply not seek the additional knowledge and information that we now do. The amount of information out there at our fingertips....my granny and mamaw would be amazed:)
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By 9am I was off to get gas and travel to the nearest town, Marshall, TX, with a farmer's market. Pick up more fresh fruit and veggies. Let's see, I got some new potatoes, onions, yellow squash, zucchini, plums, cucumber, cabbage, green tomatoes, and something I have never had, pattypan (or scalloped) squash. All delicious. You know you have made an attempt to get back on track with healthy eating when your 11 year old son asks....So, what's with all the fruit and vegetables lately? I started to laugh, I started to answer, and then I decided to keep quiet and know strides are being made. A silent A+ for me!!!!
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Went to the grocery store and only picked up a few things for the weekend. It is so incredibly hot here. I decided to pick up some charcoal and stuff so that Kenny could grill outside instead of heating up the house.
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Went to the bank. That took longer than I had thought but mission accomplished.
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Got home put up the groceries and headed outside. Weeded flower beds and got my sweet potato vine planted. Washed down the back patio with the water hose and the patio furniture.
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Took a little break and cooled off for a bit. Spent some time on the web looking a some cottage gardens and dreamed. Dreamed that someday I will have the cottage garden that I will love.
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Kenny finished tilling my flower bed by our front door and one to the side of the front door. I have the ground prepared now, and the pathway stones laid. Also laid the black weed protector.
Finally it was 9:15pm when I came in for a shower and dinner!

Twenty years, really??

Really.

No joke.

Twenty years.

Kenny and I had our 20th anniversary on June 10th. So unbelievable that it has been so long. We met in high school and got married the weekend after we graduated. We have been blessed with three beautiful children whom which our lives revolve around. Not only is Kenny my husband but my best friend, my rock, my number one fan, my constant, my supporter, a wonderful husband and father to my children.

He is the best...

Roseville Bed and Breakfast

Finally. After having to reschedule three times do to the swine flu and Brittany's drama performances, we were finally able to have Brittany's surprise graduation dinner tonight at Roseville Bed and Breakfast.

This is the same place that Brittany had her senior portraits made. We fell in love with the place the day we had her portraits taken so I decided to have a graduation dinner for her here. Only close family members were invited. No friends. She had her night with her friends after graduation. And you guessed it, I told Brittany and Katelyn both no cell phones during the dinner.

The house and grounds are beautiful. Click on the link above and take a look. There have been many more flower gardens added to the grounds since the pictures on the website were taken.

It was a beautiful graduation dinner and hopefully will serve to be a great memory for our graduate.

Lifes Roads

I woke up this morning a little early. I tried my best to go back to sleep with no such luck. As I was getting ready, I turned on the tv in my bedroom and a local minister was on. Normally, I turn the tv to the Today Show while I am getting ready but this minister caught my attention. I figured a little Godly inspiration in the morning would be a nice welcome.

The one thing that stood out to me was when the minister asked when was the last time you thanked God for your life lessons. Thanked him for the times you have traveled the high road in your life and the low road as well.

I have been dealing with so many things since, well December 2008. Since then it seems as though so many roller coaster ups and downs have happened in our little lives. From challenges at work to really difficult challenges in our personal lives. Things in our personal lives that I do not understand. Those same things that I have stated here before that I am just not able to share here just yet. Maybe one day.

When I think back over these past months, I am amazed at the strength it has taken to persevere. Strength that can only be found through God and his son Jesus. I am thankful for the life roads as hard as they may seem at times and as smooth as some are. Although it is sometimes hard to see the good when we are traveling the low road, it is there. And even for the toughest of times, I am thankful....

Better than it was

My eating is much better than it was. While it could still be better, I am getitng there.
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Trying very hard to get back on track and think about what I am eating and putting into my mouth.
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Drinking more tea and water.
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I still feel very bloated in my stomach area.
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Eating a lot more veggies and fruits.
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Off to work and I have so much to get done there today. We then have a surprise something for Brittany's graduation tonight. I will share later what it is in case she happens to hop over here and read. I am sure my blog is the least of her worries but just in case.

I worked in my front flower bed last night. Also, Kenny got my garden tilled and I planted some bell pepper and pineapple sage. I am going to work on it this weekend.

Have a great Friday and eat some fruit and veggies today:)

Just a thought: Have you thanked God for all of your life lessons? Each life experience you have had down the high road and the low road? Take time today to thank him.....

Tweet what you eat

OK, so I was thinking of using the food diary at tweetwhatyoueat.com and the thing has given me an error message more times than I can count. Anyone using this?

Saturday and food

I did not do well AT ALL with my eating today. I was at the tournament and had to much comfort food. Dang it.

OK, I am committing to myself that tomorrow at the tournament I am going to do so much better. Why do I think when I am sitting and watching something be it softball or tc that I have to have something in my mouth with my hands constantly feeding my mouth?? RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the precious baby that you gave to me that wonderful day in July, 1991

Lord, you know that the one thing I was always sure of in life was that I wanted to be a mother. Thank you for answering that prayer.

Brittany has brought so much joy to my life. What a blessing she has been. I have learned so much through the years that you have given me with her. Thank you Lord for the young woman she has become. You have blessed her with many talents and have put the appropriate people in place to help develop those talents.

I pray that she continues to seek you for guidance and that she keeps you first in her life. I pray for continued blessing in her life.

Father, thank you for my baby Brittany, who will always be my baby.

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

My 2009 Waskom High School Graduate

It happened. It is over. It is done.
Brittany graduated high school today, June 5, 2009 at 7pm. Now free from all ties to Waskom High School. She parked in her high school parking spot for the last time. Drove off the school property for the last time as a student.

I cry as I write this post tonight. Deep inside I am so, so sad. Really. I think I am so sad that I really don't know just how to be this sad. How is that? To tell you the truth I have so many emotions running around in my heart right now that I am on emotional overload! Go figure...

I will be posting pictures next week I hope. We got home late and I have to be up at 6am for Katelyn's softball tournament in the morning. We will be at the tournament all weekend in a town about an hour from our house. So, I am going to share with you some of the feelings I have in my heart tonight as I lay down to sleep...at least I hope I can sleep in spite of all these running emotions.

1. sad
2. proud
3. lifeless
4. happy
5. scared
6. confident
7. anxious
8. relieved
9. confused
10. triumphant
11. nervous
12. excited
13. heartbroken
14. tremendous love
15. understanding
16. lost
17. blessed
18. emptiness
18. honored
19. depressed
20. unconditional love
21. devotion

Can you help me search?

So, I really like Mango flavored tea. But I am really afraid the mango sweetener used at Sonic and Chili's has regular sugar. I am looking for a mango flavored tea with no sweetener added or a sugar free mango flavor to add to my tea. Anyone know how I can make my mango tea wishes come true?

I am a fan of lots of flavored teas...any suggestions on how you flavor your tea (sugarless that is)?

A good day!

I have had my third good eating day! I am so proud to be getting back on track again:)
Here is what my food intake looked like today:

Breakfast: 2 fiber one pop tarts
1 cup of coffee, creamer, sweet n low

Lunch: Tuscan Chicken sandwich from Subway
Unsweet tea with sweet n low

Snack: Veggies -broccoli, snow peas, carrots

Supper: grilled chicken breast
Veggies: broccoli, snow peas, carrots, diced tomatoes
Unsweet Mango Tea from Sonic

16 oz crystal light
32 oz unsweet tea
Total drinks: 48oz and this does not include the Sonic tea. At least this is an increase.

Katelyn and I went to Sonic about 8:30pm. She got the free rootbeer float and I got an unsweet mango tea. This was quite an accomplishment because I would normally get a giant ice cream or something similar. YAY ME!!!!

How can I be so happy to be so sad?

That is the question I have been asking myself this evening. You know, the question up there in the title. How can I be so happy to be so sad?

Prepare yourself because you are going to continue to hear about Brittany, my 2009 Graduate, here this week. Her final high school drama performance was tonight. She once again did an amazing job. To think back to her sophomore year when she wasn't even sure she wanted to try out and to see her now. The play was 'Dark of The Moon'. I absolutely love the play itself. My opinion is that it is about true love itself. Brittany is the lead female role, Barbara Allen.

Well there I was, in my seat in the high school auditorium, all settled in surrounded by my family ready to watch the performance for oh well I think this would be the 6th time or something like that. Anyway, I made it through the entire play without actual tears falling. I was constantly having thoughts flashing in and out of my mind of Brittany's past performances over the past three years. Then, at the very end it hit me like a TON OF BRICKS this would be her very last performance on this state. Tears began to roll. And roll. And roll. I cannot believe this...where has all of the time gone? Well, I can't change any of it, and I don't know that I can really prepare myself for my special graduate to walk across the stage on Friday night.

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On a lighter note and yes it was actually lighter. Here is what my food looked like today:
1 cup of coffee with creamer and sweet n low
lean cuisine sesame chicken
Kashi crackers
16 oz crystal light
snow peas
1 taco with flour tortilla, turkey meat
salad with strawberry, raspberry, mandarine oranges, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

I actually think that was everything that entered my mouth! Now, I have not found the time to monitor the exact calories, fat, carbs but I do know that it is such an improvement. I can see right off the bat that I must increase the water/crystal light/unsweet tea intake.

I did also take a very small walk, say maybe 10 minutes. But hey it was a walk and more than I have been doing.

Remember there is always ~hope~ in tomorrow!

Food today

OK, here is a look at my food intake for today:
-cup of coffee with creamer and sweet n low
-lean cuisine spaghetti
-16 oz crystal light (so far)
-6oz raspberries
-honey and mustard onion pretzels

I AM HUNGRY! But I am going to have salad for supper:)
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I just finished eating my salad for supper. It was iceburg lettuce, raspberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges and raspberry vinaigrette dressing. I am going to bed before I breakdown!

June

I need a plan....a plan for getting back on track, so I am going to start my list here and add to it.

I am going to drink more water.
I am going to journal my food.
I am going to review my blog and put some practices that helped me in the past back in place.

Graduation 2009 is drawing near

Yes, this Friday my oldest daughter Brittany will be graduating high school. Hard to believe. I am so excited yet so saddened at the thought of this wonderful event. We went to the baccalaureate service this evening. It was not a very long service and just a precursor for what is to come this Friday.

Brittany has developed into such a wonderful young woman whom I am very, very proud of. Really and truly I cannot find the words to really explain my love, feelings, and emotions for her to you properly. You know. Mostly that deep motherly love.

I do wonder, hope, and pray though that we have given her the foundation that she needs beneath her feet to enter the other side of the world. Have I really added enough to her bag of life?

One thing I know for sure is that Brittany knows the love of God and Jesus liver in her heart. I praise God for this. She is a very compassionate person who deeply feels for others.

As graduation draws closer this week, many tears fill my eyes. Tears of joy, sadness, excitement, wonder, proudness... It seems like not so long ago I was holding my first born and singing You Are My Sunshine to her. I love you Brittany.
I love you deeper than you will ever know...at least until you have your own children and experience the greatest love of all...a mother's love.

More to come later this week...on my 2009 graduate!