Fuzzy feelings...

I think one of the greatest gifts we have is the ability to love. I feel most alive when I am getting that fuzzy little electric shock kinda feeling in the middle of my chest...I guess that would be my heart. I can read something from a friend or even just think about them and all of a sudden I'm feeling these little shocks in my heart, my head is flooded with memories, my face warms with emotion, and sometimes my eyes leak...but what an electric feeling!!! To feel so connected to someone is awesome in the true sense of the word. Sometimes it's happy thoughts...sometimes sad, but always that spark of being so alive...so in the moment. What a gift!!

I'm exhausted!!

I can't believe what I went through to post that slideshow...I'm sure if I knew my head from a hole in the ground, it would have been quite simple. I am so challenged!! I should have asked the 14 year old!! She would have done just fine. But I'm learning and I'm still out there trying....trying to keep the mold from growing.

A few of my favorite things....

These were all taken by either myself or someone in my family.

Growing pains..

Well...I just purchased a ticket for my 14 year old daughter to fly alone to Dallas. She's only been on a plane one time before with both of us and she was like 4 at the time. This is such a big step for her and for me. She has an opportunity to go with her friend to Disney World and all we have to do is get her to Texas. That's a great opportunity that I don't want her to miss, but I'm not ashamed to say I'm more than a little worried. This is going to lead to things like dates, and learning to drive and leaving home....I can see it now, we're on that quick slide where my last little birdie is beginning to spread her wings and will be gone before I know it. Hence the growing pains, but I'm the one feeling the pain. This time in a child's life is such a double-edged sword. You've raised them to be strong and independent, but then all of a sudden they ARE strong and independent. You want them to experience life and move forward without fear and with confidence, but at the same time, you just want to keep them close and safe and warm and wrapped in your arms. Years ago I had to put my oldest on a plane alone to go and spend some time with his Dad. I cried for the first 24 hours he was gone and slept in his bed for the first two days. But you have to let them live. You have to let them grow. He's become a strong, confident, capable young man that I am so proud of everyday of my life. She'll be the same one day and I'll be just as proud of the young woman she becomes. But right now, I'm a worried, nervous mom who is going to have to let my baby get on that big plane all by herself.

What's in a blog??

Okay, I'm very new at this and have been looking at some of the other blogs. And this has definitely lead me to question what is a blog supposed to be about? Some are quite newsy and family oriented, some are geared toward someone's work or religious beliefs, some have quite naughty pictures and some are very funny. So I'm guessing a blog is supposed to be whatever you want it to be....just a way to send out little pieces of yourself. I'm going with there is no right or wrong way to do this and anything I choose to put on here is fine....because it's not for the people who read it as much as it's for me. I would always want to appeal to people in some way or on some level, but ultimately it's not about you....it's about me. Just like a blog someone else writes would ultimately be done for their satisfaction, not mine. So now that I feel better about what direction I'm headed, I better get going.

Some days...

I've come to believe Mondays aren't much fun. What a sad thought. It's the beginning of a brand new week...full of potential and promise. But it's also the end of a weekend... Maybe it's time I change how I feel about Mondays and start embracing them for all they can be. I think this has a lot to do with living in the "now" instead of always looking back to what was or forward to what might be. I think I need to just start seeing Mondays in the here and now and live them like they were Saturdays!!!

What have I done??

This is something so beyond me. I guess I just want to be a part of what is going on in the world. Maybe I can express some of my hidden creativeness... I'm just getting my feet wet and learning my way around. Don't judge me too harshly just yet.