The Phone Call

Because of my sons' school affiliations, I have come to know a great group of moms, some stay-at-homes and some not. Either way, these women are all fabulous in my book.  We gel, we have our little inside jokes, we "get" each other, we laugh together and we even cry together.  Most importantly, we are there for each other when needed the most.

All of this leads me to the events of today.

I was simply plodding along through my day, thinking how mundane life and its routines can be. Just dreading the thought of having to conquer the mountain of laundry that is slowly taking over my home when the cell phone rings. Sometimes something as simple as a phone call can upset the apple cart that is your life and make you realize  just how good you've got it.  I got such a phone call today. 

My dear friend of just a year and a half, C, needed me. She had just received a call we all dread, an extremely ill, and very close, relative was being taken by ambulance to the hospital. Could I come sit with her boys until the regular babysitter arrived? Without hesitation, I said I'd be there in a flash.  Still in my pajamas (remember, I was having a very lazy day), I threw on the closest clothing I could find, not caring what I looked like as I was throwing on tennis shoes and yelling to husband that I had  to go... C had an emergency and needed me and I had no clue how soon I'd be back.  (God bless the Big E  for his understanding ways.)

It's amazing that there are things we'd do for our friends when they are in distress that we won't even do or don't regularly do in our own homes. Cooking, cleaning out the cat litter, washing dishes, folding laundry, cleaning a bathroom, whatever it might be. It's like we go into Mommy Auto-Pilot mode and just get things rolling because a friend in need truly trumps EVERYTHING!

The Best Blessing of Our Year

This year we were blessed to have my Mom come and spend Thanksgiving at our home.  Why would something that ordinary be a blessing to us, you ask?  You see, my Mom lives 600 plus miles from us and for the last year and a half has been battling gastro-espohageal cancer.  (And, by the way, she's kicking cancer's ass!)  It was, by far, the BEST three weeks of my year!

My two boys cherished every moment, snuggle, hug and kiss they received from her.  They loved sitting down to Thanksgiving and having her say Grace before our meal with them.  They loved saying their prayers at night with her.  They lived for story time before bed.  Oh how they missed snuggling up with her and watching cartoons or a Christmas special.  They squeezed 18 months worth of loving into three very fast weeks.

If there was any one person who I would have my boys love more than they love me, it would be my Mom.  They have such a special bond.  They speak their own little language, body signals, nuances that only they understand.  And I'm so glad that they do. 

The highlight of Mom's visit this year was the evening we decorated the large family Christmas tree.  Every ornament on our tree has a long history and an order to which it goes onto our tree.  As each one is placed on the tree we retell the story of where it came from, who gave it to us, how old it is and who, if at all, owned it before we did.  It's our family story.  It's where we came from.  It is our legacy. 

And it is also an evening that will be forever ingrained in our memories.  For that is our best blessing of our year and the best present we have ever received.

It's Time for Me to FLY!

Today we live in a crazy rushed world.  Always going and never stopping to take a break and live in the moment.  This for many in today's society is the God's honest truth. Sadly, it is their normal way of life.

Over the last year and a half I have been trying, unsuccessfully, to enjoy life and live in the moment.  This feat would be so much easier to accomplish if it weren't for the clutter that encompasses my family and me.  It seems to be EVERYWHERE you turn. It's never ending piles of clothing, toys and paper.

Well, it's time to get off of this merry-go-round!  It's time to take back our lives! It's time to stop living in C.H.A.O.S.!!  The days of Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome at our  house are OVER!!

This week I decided to make Marla Cilley, aka The FLY Lady, my best friend in my head. (You Wendy Williams followers know what I'm talkin' about!!)  For those of you who don't know abut Ms. Marla and her groupies (the flybabies) let me fill you in.  She runs a website with the theme of getting organized 15 minutes at a time. And at the same time that you are freeing yourself from household and/or body clutter,  you are FINALLY LOVING YOURSELF!

THIS is the week that I seriously  began this journey. Progress has been slow, but we ARE seeing results! My two uber messy boys are beginning to get the gist of this new journey.
Let's hope it continues!

I WANNA F.L.Y.!!

WISHING ALL OF

MY BLOGGY FRIENDS & FAMILY MEMBERS

ALL THE JOYS THAT THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON BRINGS!

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Free digital greeting generated with Smilebox

HOPE Springs Eternal for This Holiday Season

Once upon a time in a land not so far away, lived a lovely young lady who was trying her best to prepare for a civilized holiday season. The lists have been made and shopping almost complete. Presents bought and mostly wrapped.  Why, even the Christmas cards have been signed, addressed, and are being mailed tomorrow!

Could this actually be happening? Could THIS be the year of the healthy, un-rushed, thoroughly enjoyed holiday season? Could this Mom actually ENJOY the holidays? Can it REALLY be happening? A head start on Christmas? Being finished with the hustle and bustle a whole week early? Not being up till ungodly hours on Christmas Eve helping Santa wrap presents? Indeed it is!

For once in a very long time, I am THOROUGHLY enjoying this year's holiday preparations.  No rushing around, no dreading its arrival, no hating the Season of Joy.  For once, I'm looking forward to having the kids home the week before Christmas.  I'm looking forward to fun in the kitchen with the boys baking all kinds of yummy deliciousness. I'm looking forward to tree-lit nights under the miseltoe with the Big E.  We'll have time to sit down and enjoy watching all of the Christmas specials as a family.  We'll have time to sit and gaze at our Nativity and thank the good Lord above for the abundance of gifts and favors He's granted us this year.  Time to truly feel the season. 

As a very wise Linus Van Pelt says, "That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."

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May each and everyone of you

be blessed with love, happiness and joy this Christmas

and all throughout the coming year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's the Most Magical Time of Our Year

Tis the Season for Reliving Our Traditions

Enjoying the  Beauty on Every Branch

Living Our Life of Love

Reviving Our Memories

Remembering Those No Longer With Us

Celebrating All Things Magical

What the Heck Was I Thinking??

Or maybe a better title should be.... "I Really WASN'T Thinking!"  Yeah, that's the one I should have gone with when given the chance.  

Some of my readers may have heard of this little project called NaNoWriMo. Well, in a moment of weakness stupidity insanity, I signed up.  The premises of NaNoWriMo is to spend every day (and/or waking moment night) of November putting the proverbial pen to paper on a novel.  By November 30th, you should have at least a 50,000-word novel. (Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!)

What my great American trashy novel will be about is yet to be determined.  They always say to write what you know... so look out world, I'm pouring my heart and soul into this bad boy! And if  you ever passed through my life, you might just get your fifteen minutes of fame.

Will I get to 50,000 words by November 30th? Maybe, maybe not.  But I do know that I will give it my best shot. And who knows where that will lead.  Nowhere? Somewhere? Published or not? I will hold my head up proudly and say at least I tried.

And so it begins...

My (Somewhat) Wordless Wednesday

 

Feels Like I'm Falling for Fall

 

The true and sensual beauty of Fall can be

seen in the changing colors of the leaves, 

heard in the sounds of dried twigs snapping underfoot, 

felt in the crisp wind on your face, 

tasted in warm apple cider and donuts 

and smelled in a roaring fire in the fireplace. 

But nothing revitalizes all of my senses during the Fall like these...

Writer's Block is a Pain in the...... Brain!

It's been such a long time since I've written.  What the heck is  happening to my brain? I'm beginning to think that it's turning to mush! It's been a hectic few weeks in my house. So many things going on and it's only going to get worse as the calendar marches onward. Upcoming holidays, out of control sons, the impending arrival of a new dog for the family, PTA commitments at Buddy's school, fundraisers, household responsibilities... SOMETHING'S gotta give! And I think the fall guy is my brain by default.

So if you seem me wandering around the blogosphere looking like a lost soul, please gently point my back in the direction of this blog. Maybe some stroke of inspiration will come upon me and get the creative juice flowing again.

HUGS to ALL!

Just an (Overwhelmed) Philly Girl

Thoughts from This Mama's Chair: A Mighty Revelation

Thoughts from This Mama's Chair: A Mighty Revelation: "When I entered the wonderful world of blogging, one of my goals was to 'virtually' meet other Moms out there who were just like me or at lea..."

A Mighty Revelation

When I entered the wonderful world of blogging, one of my goals was to "virtually" meet other Moms out there who were just like me or at least leading similar lives and hopefully develop friendships with a few.  I've read many blogs by many amazing women over the past three months.  Each time I am overwhelmed by the amount of love and support these women provide for each other, via positive comments, recommended follow-up sites and offered prayers. Whether the topic is dealing with the severe illness of a child, a change in economic status, the death of a child or parent, the choice whether to get a new pet, or something as simple as a story about the cute/crazy thing their child did that day, the support has ALWAYS been positive. 

Yesterday was one of those "meh" kind of days for me.  Oh so many things were rubbing me the wrong way and the least little thing set me off into a tizzy or a fit of tears.  "Well", I decided, "I might as well check my e-mail and see if I've got any good blogs waiting for me".  Luckily I did. 

I was very pleased to see that one of my favorite bloggers, Scary Mommy, had uploaded a new post.  I loved the post (as usual)  and actually could relate, as Big E. and I are debating whether or not to get a dog for our family of four (a huge life changing decision).  I read  the post and ALL of the comments that followed.  All but one comment was supportive.  In fact, it was down right mean! Really? REALLY? Ugh! Talk about kicking someone when they were down!

As you might have guessed, that one nasty comment did NOT sit well with me.  Already in a bitchy mood, I wanted to reach through the computer and smack this one person upside the head!  REALLY? I mean, REALLY???  If only there were an interactive slap buttons on  our computers! 

But then it happened...  I personally witnessed the true, loving and supportive sisterhood of bloggers in full force!  While very few acknowledged the hatefulness and defended Jill and her painful choice (which I commend), the rest ignored it and gave the evilness no credit. They just continued on with their love and support for Jill.  Heartwarming is the best way to describe how I felt at that moment; it literally had me in tears.  Right then and there my mighty revelation was revealed. 

While there can be detractors, this here Blogosphere is a pretty good place to hang out.  So I think I will just have to maintain my little piece of the real estate here and enjoy the company of the great gals out there who really know what is important... the sisterhood!

P.S. Thanks to Jill, we've decided to get an rescue dog.  But, after reading her posts, we're skipping the puppy phase.  Thanks again Jill for putting yourself out there. You and your writings about Lucky are definitely appreciated.  Rock on Scary Mommy!

That Time of Month

Well, it was bound to happen yet again.  I should have known it was coming, but I just lost track of time.  How could I not be ready for what was to come? 

It's that one week out of the month that all women dread. The week from  hell where we get nothing accomplished.  That week when every sound uttered from your child's mouth is like fingernails being raked down the surface of a blackboard. That one week when you feel completely out of  sync with the entire world.  It's knowing that no matter how hard you try, everything will just go wrong.

I can usually tell it's coming because it's usually the week that Buddy gets banned from electronic equipment and Tinklemeister damages something expensive in the house or flushes something he shouldn't down the loo. But this month I was totally blindsided even though Buddy DID get  banned from electronic equipment.  

How can that be? How did I not know? Why was I not prepared?  What is happening to me? 
Maybe next month I'll have it all together to realize when it's the... 

WEEK OF THE FULL MOON'S RISING!

What did you think I was talking about?? 
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In case you're wondering when the next full moon will be, just visit

http://www.almanac.com/moon/full

Happy Birthday to the Woman Who Inspires Me the Most

Today's writing prompt for the Back to Blogging Challenge is to "Write a new post about a woman who inspires you."  With so many great and inspiring women out there one would think it would be a hard thought choice.  My choice is so obvious to those who know me!  The woman who inspires me the most is my Mom!  And how appropriate that today's assignment coincides with her birthday.

Sixty-eight years ago this very day, in Elmira, New York, Fred and Eva Schaeffer welcomed Carlene Margaret into the world.  That's Carlene, on the far left all swaddled up in layers of blanketing, being fawned over by her Mother, Eva, and oldest sister, Viola.  I've been told she was quite the cutie back in her day!  Who knew back then that the very best thing that ever happened to me got her start?

Carlene grew up the fourth eldest of  a lower-middle class family of eight children. A product of Eva's marriage to Fred, she is their first child together. Throughout her childhood she was no stranger to moving from home to home, most located in either a borough of New York City or in Philadelphia. You see, Carlene's mother had a dose of gypsy blood in her.  When life became routine, Eva  would "pack her grip" and off they'd go to a new home, always bouncing between New York and Pennsylvania.

At one point in the early 1960's, Eva and Fred settled in Philadelphia long enough for Carlene to meet Philip, fall in love and eventually get married. And that's where I come in... I have the privilege and honor to be Carlene's daughter - the luckiest girl who ever walked the face of the Earth!!

So, you'd think that this is reason enough to be inspired by my Mom. But that's just a hair of a fraction of a reason...

In September 1996, with Mom's help, I finally moved out on my own. Mom was there every step of the way encouraging me.  When, a year later, I started an online relationship with my now-husband, Mom was the only person who had faith that this leap of a lifetime was a good one.  She 100% backed my big move from Philadelphia to Michigan in November of 1998.  She was my "Rock" when my lovely daughter was born and died way too soon.  She was at the hospital when Buddy, my first son, was born and again when Tinklemeister, our youngest son, was born.  She again was my strength when both boys we diagnosed with pneumo-thorax shortly after birth. She stood by my side so many times, never faltering, never wavering in her love for me or for my children.

Her love and strength didn't falter even when, in March of 2009, while on a visit from Philadelphia to our home in Michigan for Buddy's fifth birthday, my Mom started having difficulty swallowing rice.  Anytime we ha rice, no matter how hard she tried,  she just could NOT swallow the rice.  Deep in the darkest pit of my stomach I knew that wasn't a good thing.  But Mom pushed on, promising that she would talk to the doctor when she returned to Philadelphia.  Well, since she and Dad didn't eat rice, the problem got forgotten about... Until June 2009, that is.

On OUR visit to Philadelphia for Tinklemeister's third birthday, we noticed that Mom was having more and more problems swallowing. We stayed in Philly for a week.  It was already planned that Mom would take the ride back to Michigan with us, which she did.  Things only got worse. If it wasn't smooth, it wouldn't go down.  We called her doctor from our house and scheduled an appointment for the day after she returned home.  At 66 years old, Mom was diagnosed with gastro-esophageal cancer.

The journey through darkness for our family had just begun.  And so did  the reason that I am MOST inspired by my Mother.   Shortly after diagnosis, Mom began chemo and radiation treatments that ripped her body apart, robbed her of her strength and her independence.  She built up enough strength that in late January of this year, Mom underwent an insanely long and arduous surgery to remove her esophagus and a large part of her stomach, immediately followed by reconstructive surgery.  Once Mom regained her physical strength, she began the next round of chemotherapy.  And this time, she got really sick and chose to end chemotherapy.

In the year that this disease changed our family, one thing never changed... Mom's faith in God and her devotion to Dad, my children and me ever wavered.  If anything  her love, faith and devotion have increased.  Mom has shown me what it is to be a great mom, a faithful child of God and loyal friend to those I meet.  She is full of life and the desire to live it to the fullest.  She could have easily given up and let the cancer overtake her.  She chose to fight a valiant fight and has come out the victor.  She is my hero, my inspiration and the one person I can count on to always love me unconditionally.  She's the best gift I've ever received in my life.  Without her I wouldn't be the Mom I am today.  Through her love for me I have learned to love my children as they are and only dream for the best for them.  She is today, always has been and will always be my rock. She's the foundation of who I am and who I strive to be. Without her in my life, I would have been nothing.

Mother Goose had it all wrong for Wednesday's child when  she wrote:

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

Mother Goose must have been talking about anyone BUT my mother! She's a Wednesday's Child who is never full of woe. She is an amazing woman, a phenomenal woman, a strong woman, a loving woman, a  genuinely devoted child of God. She is an always faithful and extremely devoted wife, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. But best of all of her life titles is that of MOM! Why you may ask? Cause she's MINE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Thanks for being one of the best parts of my life!

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And now for the business part:  This post has been recreated and inspired by the SITS Girls BACK TO BLOGGING EVENT.  Interested in more information about this challenge?? Check them out at Back2Blogging.  Who knows  where  it just might lead you!


This blogging  challenge event is sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath and Florida Builder Appliances.  Be sure to check them  out. Maybe with their help and that of the SITS Girls, Thelma & Louise can come live at your house! (Although I REALLY want them to come and live with me!)

Back to Blogging Challenge - Day 3 - The Post I'm Proud Of

Well,  here we are again, day number three of the Back to Blogging Challenge. Today's assignment, which I chose to accept, is to re-post a blog that I am most proud.

Since I've only been blogging for a few short months, I don't have many posts to choose from for the first three topics of the challenge.  The following blog was written over the course of entire day and was edited over two additional days before I finally uploaded it to my blog. Three long and very tedious days which I basically ignored my two boys and just typed, deleted what I typed and typed some more.  It's the blog that took the longest to write out of fear of commitment... PUBLIC commitment to write a children's book!

 

I Wanna Write a Children's Book... I Must be Certifiable!

Several month's ago, Kelly DiPucchio came to my son's school to speak about what it's like to write children's books. Holy cow! I didn't know when I volunteered to help with getting the students shuttled in and out of the Media Center that, by the end of the morning, I'd have the writing bug. It didn't jump out at me right away. It sat, festering inside of me. Lingering, just waiting for the right moment to start screaming like a banshee "Let me out! Let me out! And let me start writing!"

About a month ago, it hit me like a tons of bricks. I want, no, I NEED, to write a book. So like any good and semi-intelligent person would do I googled "Writing Children's Books" and came back with so much information my head was spinning. Was I crazy? What was I thinking? I can't do this. My work isn't any good. I can't limit my book to 1,000 to 1,500 words. I'll never be a writer! Hogwash!

Later that evening while chatting with the hubby, I asked him what he thought if I told him I wanted to write a children's book. His reply was less than stellar. In fact, he looked at me like I was, in fact, certifiable! *Poof!* Went the dream. Or so I thought!

The next morning, I sat down and wrote 676 words of my story. I am so proud of my accomplishment so far. The book sits unfinished to date due to having a life outside of my computer. But I've already asked my cousin's daughter (who I've never met but have seen her amazing work) to be my illustrator. She is an uber-gifted artist! Now I have even more reason to finish the book since now the world knows I'm writing it!

Do I know if it will ever be published? No. Do I hope it will be? Yes indeed! It's my dream, my heart's passion. And I'm running with it! Let's hope I don't trip along the way and fall flat on my face!! 

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And now for the business part:  This post has been recreated and inspired by the SITS Girls BACK TO BLOGGING EVENT.  Interested in more information about this challenge?? Check them out at Back2Blogging.  Who knows  where  it just might lead you!


This blogging  challenge event is sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath and Florida Builder Appliances.  Be sure to check them  out. Maybe with their help and that of the SITS Girls, Thelma & Louise can come live at your house! (Although I REALLY want them to come and live with me!)

Back to Blogging Challenge -Day 2 - A Post I Wish More People Had Read

Hallelujah!!  If this blog prompt were a high school class I'd have an easy A for sure! When I read  the prompt for day 2 of the Back to Blogging Challenge, to re-upload a post  that I wished more people had read, I knew immediately which one it  would be. The title came from a Writer's Workshop from Mama Kat - "The Most Unbelievable Blue Eyes I've Ever Seen" from way back on August 11th of this year.  Only in my world, the title changed just a wee bit.  My title? "The Most Unbelievable Blue Eyes I've Ever Never Seen".

The reason I wish more people had read it was a very simple one. I wanted people to understand that just shy of nine years ago, a beautiful little girl entered this world and caused some mighty profound changes in my life.  I wrote the blog to tell the world she was here, if only for nine and one-half hours (on her Daddy's birthday to boot).  "Dammit! She was here, she was alive, and she was, and still is, tremendously loved!"  

Even though almost nine years has passed, I love little Miss Samantha Marie more today than I did that day and that she is forever etched in my heart... especially those blazing blue eyes I've never seen.

The Most Unbelievable Blue Eyes I’ve (Ever) Never Seen

That’s right, you read the title correctly, it does say NEVER. Those eyes, you see, belong to the most precious being I’ve ever had the privilege to be a part of… my precious princess, Samantha Marie.

My princess was born way too early on a dreary morning in mid-November of 2001. Twenty-four and a half weeks into my pregnancy, “slim chances of survival” were the doctor’s words to my husband and I. But the little princess beat the odds, well sort of. She patiently waited 4 full days water my water broke before deciding it was time to meet her Mama face-to-face.

What a scary day! One minute going for an amnio, the next minute being prepped for a c–section delivery. The dreams I dreamed of for my child were all coming to a potential end. Born at 10:36 AM and weighing a mere 1 and ½ pounds, my precious auburn haired little girl came into the world.

Being SO tiny and SO premature, Samantha never truly opened her eyes… but I know they were a blazing blue! Mama and Daddy both have deep blue eyes and for those that know your basic science that only means one thing, Baby Girl definitely was going to have blue eyes, just like her brothers to come after her.

That evening when I got to hold her tiny frame in my arms, all I could do was stare at her eyes. And somehow I knew she could see me, only something another mother in my position could understand.

It’s been 8 and ½ long years since that day, but when I close my eyes I can still see her blazing baby blues!

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And now for the business part:  This post has been recreated and inspired by the SITS Girls BACK TO BLOGGING EVENT.  Interested in more information about this challenge?? Check them out at Back2Blogging.  Who knows  where  it just might lead you!

This blogging  challenge event is sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath and Florida Builder Appliances.  Be sure to check them  out. Maybe with their help and that of the SITS Girls, Thelma & Louise can come live at your house! (Although I REALLY want them to come and live with me!)

Ode to My First Blog Post

I opened my email this morning with fear

That tons of messages were waiting for me here.

What to my hazy, sick and tired eyes did appear? 

MY first blog challenge of the year!

I shouted with glee and I jumped for joy!

I wondered how much people wanted to hear about my life and my boys.

I accepted the challenge feeling all coy...

And began treating my blog like it was a brand new toy!

So here's my first blog...

It lay flat like a log

But hopefully in time

It'll be like well-oiled cog...

MY FIRST BLOG POST JULY 16, 2010:

SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Well, I did it! I broke down and decided to start a blog. So where do I go from here? I promise to do my best to keep you all entertained as much as possible, but no promises.

AND NOW THE NEW AND IMPROVED FIRST BLOG POST - REVISED:

SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Well,  I did it! I broke down and decided to start a blog.  A place where I can open my heart and share with the world my hopes, dreams, fears, longings and desires.  

The best I can do is tell you I'll be straight shooting and telling you things as I see them. I'll share my views on the world, on motherhood, on dealing with life as it's dealt to you. So where do I go from here? I promise to do my best to keep you all entertained as much as possible, but no promises.  

Won't you join me on this great roller coaster ride?  

 

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And now for the business part:  This post has been added to and inspired by the SITS Girls BACK TO BLOGGING EVENT.  Interested in more information about this challenge?? Check them out at Back2Blogging.  Who knows  where  it just might lead you!

This blogging  challenge event is sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath and Florida Builder Appliances.  Be sure to check them  out. Maybe with t heir help and that of the SITS Girls, Thelma & Lousie can come live at your house! (Although I REALLY want them to come and live with me!)

Peace, love and turtles,

Phyllis

And I'll keep on walkin' ...

     Bruce Springsteen never put into words more eloquently how I feel tonight than when he wrote one of his best songs ever on his 1987 release Tunnel of Love. "Walk Like A Man" holds so incredibly much meaning for me at this moment tonight, particularly the following line:

"Well now the years have gone and I've grown from that seed you've sown
But I didn't think there'd be so many steps I'd have to learn on my own"

     Tonight my six year old seed went off on his fist official sleep over at his best friend's house.  I dropped Buddy off at 6:00PM, and I'll be picking him up at 2:15PM tomorrow.   Twenty of the longest hours of my life have commenced.  It's going to be odd just tucking in one child tonight, kissing only one child goodnight and being awakened in the morning by just one little munchkin climbing in our bed to "cock-a-doodle-doo" husband & me bright and early tomorrow morning.  Odd how you never notice (or appreciate) the little things in your life's routine until something changes.

     We work SO hard to teach them the "do's" and the "don'ts" then hope and pray that they get it all right.  We want to give them the skills they need to stand on their own two feet, no matter how little those feet are, to learn to be independent people.  But when the time comes to let them test their wings, and taste a bit of freedom, we automatically want to hold back and squeeze them tight, never letting go.  Somehow, from somewhere deep inside of me, I mustered the strength to give him a quick kiss and a hug and let him go off to enjoy his new experience.

     Well, Buddy, Mama is very proud of you and loves that you're growing up to be a great kid.  But could you just do it a little slower? Mama can't handle the heartbreak!

Priorities - It Took a Tornado to Set Them Straight!

What a great feeling to have a keyboard under my fingers again!  I'm so fortunate to be able to sit here, plugging away at my dilapidated laptop, and share my latest adventure with you.

Last Thursday, the town I live in experienced storms that would change many people's lives in a matter of just a few short minutes! Those monsters of nature knocked out our power for 73 of the LONGEST hours of my life. But those first 30 minutes were, by far, the worst, and had the most impact in my life!

What started out as a typical evening turned out to be not so typical after all! Shortly after finishing up our meal and clearing the table, I decided to run some quick errands, all of which would keep me within the same one square mile.  Familiar territory, or so I thought.

First stop - the Avon lady (I love my Avon lady) just 7 short streets away! Yay for me! I was picking up a secret reward for the boys - Wii accessories they've been asking for since Christmas when they got their game system.  And a bonus for me, new make up to make me feel better about myself now that I'm exercising and eat (mostly) healthy again.  As I was leaving I heard a familiar sound, but just what it was did not register in this tired-all-the-time brain. 

Next stop - my good deed for the day.  Off to the brother-in-law's to deliver some meatloaf and mashed potato left-overs for his Friday lunch. Just as I pulled into his driveway, that all too familiar sound got louder... MUCH louder... MUCH MUCH LOUDER!!! Holy crap shit! IT'S THE TORNADO WARNING SIREN!!! The run-down brain FINALLY kicked in! Oh, and how it kicked in!  I threw the left-overs at my brother-in-law, and at the same time called my hubby screaming like a banshee to get the boys to the basement... forgetting that they were already playing down there when I left the house.  Maternal instincts were running high. So high I wasn't thinking straight.

The very first thought in my mind is get my boys in the basement!! The very reasons for my being were in harm's way!  I just couldn't get home fast enough! The longest drive of my life... 2 streets over from where I was, about an eighth of a mile.  It felt like I would NEVER get there! "God", I bargained, "if You get me home safe I'll do anything for You.  Just let me hold onto my boys till the storm passes."

Made it home in just seconds.  Just as the car pulled into the driveway, the waring sirens stopped.   All clear! Thank God! I was so relieved I went in and kissed hubby and the boys. Thanking God all the while and thinking "Cool, I can finish up my errands and cross them off the list. Maybe I can even tackle a few other projects."

After a brief conversation with my husband, knowing that we were still under a tornado watch, I decided that I could make it to my niece's house and back -- less than 1 mile round trip -- BEFORE the rain came!  No big deal! Right? The sirens stopped, we were just gonna get some rain.... Ummm, no.

Being a girl from the east coast, I've lived through my fair share of hurricanes.  Piece of cake!  Tornadoes however are horses of a TOTALLY different color!  I was clueless what to expect when the tornado in question is about 5 miles from your house and headed in your direction.  Boy was I blond that night!!

I made it to my niece's house just in time for the thunder and lightning to start.  I traded her a cupcake carrier for some delicious peanut butter cookies and quickly hopped back in the car and headed for home. This time obeying the speed limit. After all, I had plenty of time, it wasn't raining yet and the thunder and lightning were still timed fairly far apart.  We're ONLY gonna get rain. What's the big deal?  Holy crap shit! I was SO wrong!!

Just as I rounded the bend the sky turned an eerie shade of greenish-gray; the very same color of sky just like in The Wizard of Oz when the Wicked Witch released the flying monkeys to scoop up Dorothy and crew.  Well, I thought, my babies are on the other side of the major road and I've got several more blocks to go.... I floored it all the way home, blowing through stop signs and a red light (luckily, there was no traffic at any of them). To hell with the speed limit, my babies are again in jeopardy!

Motherly adrenaline was working in over-drive! Made it home and into the basement with the rest of our family and we just held on for the bumpy ride. (Little did I know that when the power went out the second tornado was directly.over.my.house!) I kissed and hugged my children more that night more than I think I have kissed them in their entire lifetimes -- total -- combined.

When we emerged from the basement, Buddy, our six year old, looked out the front picture-window and asked why there was a tree in our usually vacant front yard. What??  We walked out on the porch, looked around and there were chunks of branches everywhere, the street was flooded and we were all in the dark.  But all of us, our neighbors included, were safe and no one lost their lives, their belongings or their homes.  We all learned the next day that two tornadoes blew through our neighborhood diagonally through the center.  They were each over three miles wide and two and one-half football fields deep, F-1 category.  We survived....

Moral of the story?  My priorities were knocked out of line early that night thinking errands were more important than staying and protecting my family. It took two tornadoes skipping through my backyard (and 73 hours in the dark) to set them straight! 

Namaste By Day is giving away a GORGEOUS bracelet!

If you haven't discovered her candid writings, please stop over and show some love to Namaste By Day. Great blog and an extra... she's hosting a Give Away of an absolutely gorgeous Coppin Gifts' signature daVinci bead bracelet! And wasn't I surprised to learn that one of HER favorite beads was a turtle. And those of you that know me know how I am about my TURTLES!!!


So stop on over to If I Can't Win DaVinci Beads... and tell her Just A Philly Girl sent you!


Peace, love & turtles,
Phyllis

The Devotion Is Over

Dear Messrs. Hershey and Coca-Cola,

I'm writing today to inform you that I am leaving you and officially ending our love triangle. I know it will be hard for you both survive without me and it won't be easy for me either, but I must move on. It's not that I don't love you, it's just that you are slowly killing me, draining me of my energy and you're keeping me from sleeping through the night. You have repeatedly kept me from exercising and taking care of my health.

Our time together was, to say the least, among the happiest of my life. But  that happiness has faded into the sunset. You see, I've got three wonderful men in my life who matter more to me that you two do. But the most important thing that matters is that I am here for my men, the big one and the two little ones. So I've decided to walk away, not looking back.

Please don't cry or make a fuss, don't call and don't write.  I'm NOT taking you back no matter how much you beg! I'm sure in just a short time, you will find someone else to love, but for us it is over!  From here on in, I'll be spending more time chasing around my two darling boys and enjoying life with husband as we all get fit and stay that way. 

Have a wonderful life... just not with me!

Sincerely,

Just a Philly Girl

I Wanna Write a Children's Book... I Must be Certifiable!

Several month's ago, Kelly DiPucchio came to my son's school to speak about what it's like to write children's books. Holy cow! I didn't know when I volunteered to help with getting the students shuttled in and out of the Media Center that, by the end of the morning, I'd have the writing bug. It didn't jump out at me right away. It sat, festering inside of me. Lingering, just waiting for the right moment to start screaming like a banshee "Let me out! Let me out! And let me start writing!"

About a month ago, it hit me like a tons of bricks. I want, no, I NEED, to write a book. So like any good and semi-intelligent person would do I googled "Writing Children's Books" and came back with so much information my head was spinning. Was I crazy? What was I thinking? I can't do this. My work isn't any good. I can't limit my book to 1,000 to 1,500 words. I'll never be a writer! Hogwash!

Later that evening while chatting with the hubby, I asked him what he thought if I told him I wanted to write a children's book. His reply was less than stellar. In fact, he looked at me like I was, in fact, certifiable! *Poof!* Went the dream. Or so I thought!

The next morning, I sat down and wrote 676 words of my story. I am so proud of my accomplishment so far. The book sits unfinished to date due to having a life outside of my computer. But I've already asked my cousin's daughter (who I've never metbut have seen her amazing work) to be my illustrator. She is an uber-gifted artist! Now I have even more reason to finish the book since now the world knows I'm writing it!

Do I know if it will ever be published? No. Do I hope it will be? Yes indeed! It's my dream, my heart's passion. And I'm running with it! Let's hope I don't trip along the way and fall flat on my face!!

A PTA Mom's Delight

Well, we just had our Summer Brain Storming meeting for my oldest son's school PTA. What a GREAT group of ladies that are a part of this community. In the span of a few hours we laughed and we cried, we shared crazy stories of our summers so far. So many things going on in all of our lives. So much tragedy and some happy news too. It was the highlight of the week so far... Not bad since it was only Monday!

It always amazes me how a group of women coming from different backgrounds who are all so different in so many ways can be so similar at the same time. These women amaze me! I have learned so much about being a mom to a school-age child just from one school year with these ladies!

Hit a wall with a behavior issue? At least ONE of these gals has walked in my shoes. Need the name of a good dentist or doctor? Just ask and you'll get a list as long as your arm. It's so nice to be able to have friends to go to for HONEST advice. A real sense of loving community!

Amazingly heartwarming for a girl who's transplanted from Philly to the mid-west! Who'd have thunk it?? Not me!

The Most Unbelievable Blue Eyes I’ve (Ever) Never Seen

That’s right, you read the title correctly, it does say NEVER. Those eyes, you see, belong to the most precious being I’ve ever had the privilege to be a part of… my precious princess, Samantha Marie.

My princess was born way too early on a dreary morning in mid-November of 2001. Twenty-four and a half weeks into my pregnancy, “slim chances of survival” were the doctor’s words to my husband and I. But the little princess beat the odds, well sort of. She patiently waited 4 full days water my water broke before deciding it was time to meet her Mama face-to-face.

What a scary day! One minute going for an amnio, the next minute being prepped for a c–section delivery. The dreams I dreamed of for my child were all coming to a potential end. Born at 10:36 AM and weighing a mere 1 and ½ pounds, my precious auburn haired little girl came into the world.

Being SO tiny and SO premature, Samantha never truly opened her eyes… but I know they were a blazing blue! Mama and Daddy both have deep blue eyes and for those that know your basic science that only means one thing, Baby Girl definitely was going to have blue eyes, just like her brothers to come after her.

That evening when I got to hold her tiny frame I my arms, all I could do was stare at her eyes. And somehow I knew she could see me, only something another mother in my position could understand.

It’s been 8 and ½ long years since that day, but when I close my eyes I can still see her blazing baby blues!

Five Questions with Lee Ford, paralympic archer | ajc.com

Five Questions with Lee Ford, paralympic archer | ajc.com

So Where Do We Go From Here?

Well, I did it! I broke down and decided to start a blog. So where do I go from here? I promise to do my best to keep you all entertained as much as possible, but no promises.