Thoughts from This Mama's Chair

Yanni Definitely Has the Truth of Touch

2011-04-07T11:36:00.001-04:00

As a member of the One2One Network, I was recently given the opportunity to listen to and review Yanni's newest CD, Truth of Touch.

To be quite honest, I almost passed on this opportunity. I thought "Yanni?? Isn't he that weird guy with the oddball music?" But then I thought "What the heck, I've got nothing to lose. I'll listen while I write for my blog." And so I did...

And I am SO glad hat I did not let this opportunity pass me! The music just simply flows like a peaceful river from my computer speakers. A difficult post seemed to pour forth from my fingers as I listened to each and every song. It's hard to write about dealing with a special needs child, but not this time. I wrote like I've never written before. The music touched a nerve deep inside of me, made me feel like all will be alright with my little corner of world.

And as the tones flowed from my speakers, it wafted through the house drawing my children in. My oldest, who has Asperger's, fell in love immediately. He asked if this was his new night-time music. He sat on the floor and just listened, humming the melodies after the tunes were long gone. Music like that is a welcome part of our life. It soothes, it calms, it heals, it helps keep us on an even keel. All of these make this CD well worth the purchase price!

I'll certainly something we'll keep playing over and over again! We're sold, and hope that you will be too.

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Now for the business part of my review:

I received absolutely no monetary compensation to write this post. The opinions expressed here are purely my own and not those of any other person or entity. In exchange for my membership with One2One Network, I received, for review, a free download of Yanni's "Truth of Touch" CD.

Who Says Amazing Things Don't Happen?

2011-04-04T22:22:00.000-04:00

So we went to Oakland mall today and an amazing thing happened.....

Click here to read more.

Seven - It's OUR Lucky Number

2011-03-11T10:54:00.000-05:00

"It's A Boy!" Those were the words of Harry A. Ludwig, D. O., the world's most knowledgeable, loving and caring obstetrician. We just called him "Doc".

Doc was there with us when we got out positive test results with our first child, Samantha. And he was there with us after her death, sobbing tears of pain and sorrow, tears of hopes and dreams crushed. That man had THE most consoling hugs EVER, the kind you get from your grandpa. The kind of hugs that said everything is going to be all right. Warm, loving hugs full of hope and happiness.

That was the reason that a year and a half after Samantha's death, we went back to our good friend wanting to try again for another child. Doc knew the routine, Glucophage three times a day in conjunction with Clomid. First month we tried, BINGO! We were expecting. And Doc was the first person we called to share the news!

The first 26 weeks were the most harrowing. Waiting, each passing day, with baited breath; we wanted, no, we NEEDED to get to 27 weeks this time to know all was well with our baby-to-be. Through it all, Doc was there promising us "poopy diapers at 3 AM".

It was decided that our new family member would arrive two and a half weeks before my due date of March 28th. When March 12th arrived, we were filled with so much anxiety, but mostly with joy and happy anticipation. Up until this point, we didn't know whether it would be a girl or a boy. The mystery was going to be revealed and our world will change for ever, for the better!

Seven years ago, we heard the most wonderful and amazing words we've ever heard, "It's A Boy!" On Friday, March 12, 2004, at 8:36AM, Eastern Standard Time, our little Buddy came into this world, in the warm, waiting hands of Dr. Harry. He got his first hug from that great man.

Seven years ago, we heard the saddest words ever "Call a priest, he might not live past today."

Seven years, he's had to over come one medical milestone after another....

In seven years, he has proven all the neo-natologists wrong!

In seven years, he's blown them all away!!

These have been the best seven years of my life and I would not trade them for all the riches or wonders in the world!

Seven years ago, Buddy was gently brought into this world by a wonderful man; a man that we will never forget even though we are separated by time and eternity! Without him we would not be celebrating another milestone in our lives! Thanks Doc for one of the best gifts ever. Thanks for our lucky seventh year. We will love you forever for it!

Happy SEVENTH birthday Buddy! And thank you for being one of the best things to ever happen to me! I love you to Pluto and back again.... and I always will!

They're Going Bald for a Cause

2011-02-20T14:02:00.001-05:00

I've been living in my neighborhood now for just over nine years. In that time, I've gotten to know a few of my neighbors, some more than others. Some are cool, some not so much. Some friendly, outgoing and fun to hang out with, some, well, not so much. This is the story of the cool ones...

Last year at this time, my neighbor Kathy, and I were chatting and she asked me what I thought of her husband's newly grown beard. I said it was a new look for him and asked what made him decide to grow it out. Her response blew me away. Very calmly Kathy said, "Mike is going to get his beard and head completely shaved bald the week of St. Patrick's Day." I think she was expecting my response of "What? Is he nuts? It's so dang cold here in Michigan. He'll freeze his fool head off." That was the day I learned about the St. Baldrick's Day Foundation.


2011 Team Clintondale Shavees - Mike, Dennis, Ryan & Jason

What an amazing charitable foundation this is! Their mission is simple: "The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives." Can't get more simple than that, now can ya?

That evening a check was delivered to the neighbor's house.

My neighbor's husband, both sons and their best friend will be shaving their beards and their heads to benefit St. Baldrick's. Our check has already been forwarded and we're looking forward to seeing our bald neighbors. We're extremely proud to say that we've helped work to kick childhood cancers' collective asses!!

Mike, Jason & Dennis - Post Shave March 2010

Want to help make a difference? Just visit Team Clintondale's page and make a donation. Every PENNY helps. Together we CAN and WILL show kids' cancers just WHO is in charge!

NOTE: I "borrowed" these photos from our participants. Thanks for sharing guys! And thanks for your bravery!

Project 365 - Chapter 3

2011-02-05T15:38:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I made the commitment to take a new photo one a day for 365 days. And so far, I've only missed a day or two. And now without further ado, here's the next Chapter in our lives.

Lego Creations Abound in Our Home

January 17, 2011

Working on My 101 in 1,001 Days

Making My Own Greeting Cards

January 18, 2011

Junior Chef

January 19, 2011

No Pictures Today Mom, PLEASE!

January 20, 2011

A Pleasant Pick-Me-Up from the Big E.

January 21, 2011

A Day Well Spent With Buddy's Best Friend

January 22, 2011

Thinking of My Angel in Heaven, Samantha Marie

January 23, 2011

I LOVE Turtles!

January 24, 2011

Testing Out the New Purex Complete Crystals

WE LOVE THEM!

January 25, 2011

Thinking of A Future Vacation in Holland, Michigan

(Maybe I'll get to meet Julie)

January 26, 2011

My Favorite Souvenir from Our Holland 2006 Trip

January 27, 2011

Waiting for Warm Summer Nights to
Swing, Sip Wine and Star Gaze

January 28, 2011

Thirst Quencher - My Daily AddictionJanuary 29, 2011

My Other Daily Addiction
Jalapeno Cream Cheese Poppers and Pretzel Nuggets

January 30, 2011

Counting Down the Days till We go to Illinois
To see Jim Henson's Fantastic World
at the Lakeview Museum of Art and Science

January 31, 2011

And so we bid a fond farewell to the first month of 2011. It was an interesting, snow and illness filled month for our family, but we survived. Here's to a great February, 2011. Hoping it's filled with all the love St. Valentine will allow!

For The Love…Of Blogging Top Ten Tuesday

2011-01-25T20:52:00.001-05:00

OK, so I moseyed on over to Sluiter Nation today as I usually do and came across Katie's top ten reasons that she blogs. So, I thought I'd give it a go...

10. Freedom. Blogging gives me the freedom to say the things to the world that I would otherwise not say to their face. If I get annoyed with some one, I blog about it. If someone hurts me and I can't face that person, I blog about it. I can even share a good joke or laugh.

09. Therapy. Blogging helps me prepare for the next session with my son's therapist. When I write posts about how things went or what I'm hoping for I sometimes hope that my little thoughts will help some other Mom going through the same things as I face with my son. It also helps me get through the rough and dark days whe n I can't deal with the death of my daughter.

08. It's an Amazing Support System. This wholeheartedly connects to # 9. When I have a bad day with my son and he's not doing so well, I can post a blog and know that someone out there has walked in my footsteps already and can lend a supportive shoulder to lean on. We can cry, laugh, scream and even sing together.

07. The Sisterhood That is Dear to My Heart. I've "met" so many amazing women in just the six months I've been blogging. If I post a question on a forum or just stop to spread some blog love, I know that they will genuinely appreciate it. They are there to listen, lend a help when you're stuck in writer's block prison and will give you honest to goodness feed back when you ask their opinion. And these women? They don't care what size you are, whether or not you own the latest fashions or designer purses or even the brand of cheap wine you drink. They just care about YOU.

06. Seeing the World Through Others' Eyes. I've met so many great people from all pover these United States. I've learned about life in Missouri, California, Texas and even about life in our neighbor to the north, Canada.

05. Reading Others' Blogs. I love to read and just don't have the time to devote to reading an entire novel. Blogs are short (mostly) and to the point. It's a great escape for me.

04. Reviving the Creative Juices. Many, many moons ago I wrote poetry when I was just a wee school girl. Then I grew up and got a life and slowly stopped writing. Blogging has revived my love for the written word. Once I start typing I just can NOT seem to stop.

03. It's ALL MINE. No one can tell me what to write or how to write it. I can write fact or fiction. I can be overly dramatic or cleverly subdued. No one can edit away my words to meet their hidden agendas. I can chose to accept or delete their comments if they get too personal or too nasty. It's MINE and no one can take it away from me!

02. Leaving a Legacy for My Children. Years from now when my memory has faded, I will be able to log in to my computer and share my life with my sons and their children. They'll know the REAL Mom and what she felt and what she dreamed.

01. Just For Me To Remember Who I Am. Sometimes we, in the many roles of wife, mother, daughter, friend, get so lost we don't know just exactly who we are. Blogging gives me the opportunity to remember just who I was before all of the life changing events that happened to me actually happened.

So tell me, why do YOU blog?? Jot 'em down and share with the class over st Slutier Nation. Go ahead, what are you waiting for? Join our BLOG HOP, won't you?

I'm A Purex Insider... And I Like It

2011-01-25T18:06:00.001-05:00

A little while back I stumbled onto a website looking for Purex laundry detergent coupons. I googled it. Didn't find the coupons I was hoping for, but I found information about becoming a Purex Insider. "Well", I thought, "I've GOT to check THIS out! After all, I am the Purex Queen!" (At least in my own little world I am.)

So, I took the plunge and I signed up. (Yay me!) And I waited and waited and waited for what seemed forever to get to try out the free sample of their newest product Finally last week, the package arrived. (Yay me!)

I have to confess before we go any further... I ~~don't like~~, ~~despise~~, ~~loathe~~ hate doing laundry and anything laundry-related! You see, our laundry "room" is a big open space in our super messy (think aftermath of an F-5 tornado) basement. It's not a place I want to frequent and I avoid it at all costs. It's just too stressful to deal with without a glass (or three) of wine. There, with that confession off of my chest, I can go on further. (Yay me!)

And there it was, laundry day, me with mountains to conquer and a fresh bottle of Ultra Purex Free and Clear and my newly obtained sample. (Yay me.) And what, you ask, was the sample product? It was their newest fabric softener for the washing machine. They are sweet smelling crystals - Purex Complete Crystals Softeners.

And oh what great little crystals they are. They are 92% natural, non-oil based crystals. You add them directly to your wash water when you add your detergent. Simple enough. Even this blond could handle this mission. (Yay me!)

On top of being 92% natural, they:

Preserve the flame retardant benefits of your children's clothing (what Mom doesn't love that?);
Retain your athletic wear's wicking ability (a gym-rat's dream);
Maintain your towel's ability to absorb water (no more needing multiple towels to dry off); and
Keeps your whites from yellowing or graying (woohoo! Less bleach against my family's skin).

I opened the bottle and shook away. It was premeasured on the side of the bottle so there was no guesswork involved with how much to use. (Yay me!) Something I rarely use is scented products as we live in an eczema-laden household. Every soap, detergent or skin-related product is hypoallergenic, fragrance and dye free. Well, this product was not scent free, but it did have a delicious heavenly scent. (It is available in three scents.) So I thought I'd give it a try on something that doesn't stay on our skin too long, the mountain of towels.

At first the scent was quite strong but after a trip through the washer and then the dryer, the scent mellowed and was enjoyable. Everything felt as soft as if I'd used my fabric softener sheets. (Yay me!) My only disappointment is that it doesn't really reduce the static electricity like the fabric softener sheets do. Maybe they can work on that (hint, hint Mr. Purex)

We tested the freshly laundered towels against our sensitive skin and VIOLA! NO REACTION!! (Super Yay me!!) So, it was off to conquer the rest of Mt. Washmore. After all of the laundry was complete I still had enough of the crystals left over to do about three more loads.

Overall I was satisfied with this product, but would love to see them develop a hypo-allergenic version that is fragrance, dye and color free. Here that fine people of Purex? Please!!

NOW FOR THE BUSINESS END OF THE POST:
I received no monetary compensation to write this post. The opinions expressed here are purely my own and not those of any other person or entity. In exchange for my membership with Purex Insider, I received one free sample to test of their product.

Final Farewell -- A blessing during tragic times

2011-01-24T12:33:00.002-05:00

In April of 2007, I stumbled across an article in The Catholic Standard & Times regarding the founding of Final Farewell. It was a pleasure to see that its founder was an old friend from my childhood, a fantastic and caring person with a heart of gold!

Having known Patricia (Trish) most of my life (we attended the same grade school and high school), it doesn't surprise me that she has worked diligently to establish a foundation that cares so much for grieving parents and their families. Trish knows first hand how hard it is to overcome life's obstacles with hard work, dedication and love. She and her group are truly dedicated to helping families in the darkest of all the hours in their lives, the death of a child.

I'm pleased that Final Farewell was born and that Trish and her team can help countless families get the help and support they need. It is my prayer that they continue to grow and receive community (and financial) support for their most worthwhile cause. To aid a parent and help with the arrangements for a dignified and compassionate farewell to their child is one of the greatest gifts that anyone person can share. Small gestures mean so much to a grieving parent.

As I type this post, Final Farewell is seeking funds to give a family of four who perished in a Philadelphia house fire on January 13, 2011, a proper burial, including a memorial head stone. Final Farewell's goal, via CrowdRise, is to provide this family with a gravestone marker so that they will be forever remembered.

I wish Final Farewell a huge success with this fundraiser and its upcoming major fundraiser in April. This is a compassionate ministry that in these times of financial hardship is greatly needed and appreciated by the grieving families.

May God continue to bless Final Farewell and everyone involved in this MOST IMPORTANT mission to give comfort to the grieving.

If you would like to help the family mentioned above, please click here. Any donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated.

NOW FOR SOME OFFICIAL BUSINESS:
Please note that I have received absolutely NO compensation or favors of any sort in exchange for this post. The opinions/comments in this post are expressly my own and I have no personal stake in the raising of funds for Final Farewell.

"Working Class" is Coming to CMT

2011-01-21T23:42:00.018-05:00

What do you get when you combine a real-size gal, three lovable kids, two hot looking guys and a crotchety old man? A sitcom that left me smiling and looking forward to more!

CMT has produced its first scripted series for their network. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to see a sneak preview of the first episode and I must say, for their first outing, CMT did a fantastic job! Per their website,

"The new 12 episode, multi-camera series follows Carli Mitchell (Melissa Peterman), a single mom from a rough and tumble background, trying to give her three kids a better life by moving them to an upscale suburb. She quickly finds that making the transition to “the good life” is harder than she thought. She's unwittingly befriended by her cranky neighbor, Hank (Ed Asner), her only “career” prospect is a glorified deli job at the local grocery store, and the man she falls for not only already has a girlfriend – but he’s also her boss, Rob (Patrick Fabian). With her ladies-man brother, Nick (Steve Kazee), to help her out (when he’s not acting like one of the kids himself), Carli faces the challenges of parenting, dating, and making friends in her new community by doing more with less,staying true to herself and approaching each day with a touch of working class."

Carli is like many of us moms, working hard to keep their families afloat and give them a life better than she had. One thing that impressed me about this program? Carli is a real size woman, not a skinny bean pole of a gal that isn't representative of most of today's society. And her character plays well off of her co-worker and neighbor, Hank (played by Ed Asner). Hank is a war veteran who has such a wit about him that it was a sheer pleasure to watch, waiting for his next great zinger.

The very best part of this sitcom is that I was able to preview this show in its entirety without having to shield it from my young boys. It was good clean humor, nothing overly provocative or sexually explicit. None of the humor attacked anyone, no crude butts of anyone's joke. A true family-oriented show. How refreshing!

Will I be back for more? You better believe it!! I'm looking forward to the double play next Friday night. :) See you Friday night at CMT - 8PM!

P.S. As a member of One2One Network, I was able to watch the sneak peek of "Working Class" in return for a review. I received no compensation in exchange for my review and it is solely my personal opinion.

Project 365 - Chapter 2

2011-01-16T19:37:00.000-05:00

Here it is, Sunday night again. Time to share my latest photo creations.

I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I loved taking them.

Winter Berry Tree

January 10, 2011

Heart of Roses

January 11, 2011

Always Faithful

Snuggling while sick

January 12, 2011

Most delicious cake pops I've EVER tasted

from Just 4 Cakes

January 13, 2011

Happiness is finding a cold Coca-Cola in your car when you thought you had none!

My afternoon pick me up

January 14, 2011

De-constructing Christmas 2010

January 15, 2011

An ice cold Mike's = Sunday evening delight

January 16, 2011

Photographs and Memories

2011-01-09T19:59:00.000-05:00

Click, click, click, click.... that familiar sound is music to my ears. The sound of a camera shutter opening and closing quick enough to capture life and it's moments.

While perusing Twitter (yes, I know, I know... that's where I find EVERY one of my new challeneges), I stumbled across mentions of #project365 or #365project. Curious, I asked Julie from Dutch Being Me what exactly was this Project365. Being the sweetie she is, she explained that it's a commitment to take and post a new photo every day for the entire year. Hmmm, a challenge I can definitely take on since I LOVE to take photos of everything and everyone. It would be a breeze. Hell, I already have 4 amazing subject living under my roof - two very precocious little boys, a curious cat and a precious puppy. And I live in an amazing town that has loads of photogenic locales. Let the photo taking begin!!!

Ok, so I'm nine days late on posting pics. Nothing new for me as I always seem to be a day late and a dollar (or two) short. I've modified my version of Project 365 just a bit to reflect my crazy life. I will take my photos daily, but post them every Sunday after the kiddos are fast asleep.

So without furter ado, I present to you Week One and a half of my Project 365...

January 1, 2011
Pure, perfect love

January 2, 2011

Buddy's gonna learn to play the guitar

January 3, 2011
And the lion shall lay down with the lamb

January 4, 2011
Poor Thomas kite... still stuck in the tree. Even a tornado couldn't set you free!

January 5, 2011
Winters Amazing Beauty

January 6, 2011
Buds trying to hang on through the new fallen snow

January 7, 2011
If only I could get through this window... that squirrel would be dinner

January 8, 2011
Caution! This puppy is NOT a morning kind of dog!

January 9, 2011
Chrismtas removed from the All Seasons tree and
winter birds and berries added in

One Courageous Mama and One Very Precious Little Child

2011-01-03T22:06:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow will be one of the shittiest days in the life of a great woman. It is the day her son will celebrate his 10th birthday.... in heaven. No cake to enjoy, no candles to blow out, no gifts to open, no photos to record this life milestone. And the worse, no hugs and kisses from Mom, Dad and his siblings. It's a day in her life that I can truly relate to.

I buried my daughter nine years ago. And let me tell you, it effin' sucks! We are supposed to OUTLIVE our children... not BURY them! Every single holiday, birthday and life milestone has been stolen from us, never to be given back. No New Year's celebrations, no Valentine's sent home from school, no Easter baskets to fill, no Mother's Day or Father's Day cards, no fireworks to enjoy together on the 4th of July, no first days of school, no Halloween costumes or trick or treating, no Thanksgiving feasts to share, and worst of all no Christmases filled with joy. All stolen away in a moment's time. Just a void where our child should be.

The anger, the rage, the pain... they are never gone. We just try to hide them well enough to make others happy. And unless you have walked the proverbial mile in our moccasins, don't tell us that you understand. You do NOT and you NEVER will.

I still lay in bed at night begging God for my baby girl back. If He "really" loved me, He'd grant my wish right? He'd take away the pain? He'd make me whole again? NOPE, not a chance in hell. And people wonder why I question my faith? Wouldn't you?

Holes exist in our hearts that will never be filled. And with each passing day that we don't obsess over our child makes our pain worse because we feel we are betraying our child. Yet we don't mention our child often because we don't want to make others uncomfortable. Each time we do this, we die a little inside. And that is just NOT effin' fair!

So if you are reading this post, please stop and say a prayer for Moms like Tanis and me, say a prayer for our children. And by all means, ask us about our children because they were REAL and they DID exist!

The Phone Call

2010-12-30T14:55:00.000-05:00

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

2010-12-20T09:59:00.001-05:00

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!

2010-12-20T09:40:00.000-05:00

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.!!

2010-12-19T13:47:00.000-05:00

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

2010-12-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

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."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

2010-12-14T19:34:00.000-05:00

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??

2010-11-03T22:31:00.000-04:00

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

2010-11-03T21:54:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-11-02T20:41:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-27T10:58:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-27T10:56:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-22T15:57:00.000-04:00

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??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

2010-09-16T01:30:00.001-04:00

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

2010-09-15T00:30:00.002-04:00

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!

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

2010-09-14T01:00:00.000-04:00

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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Ode to My First Blog Post

2010-09-13T14:25:00.002-04:00

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?

***************************************************************************

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' ...

2010-09-05T21:33:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-08-23T23:35:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-08-14T18:58:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-12T13:30:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-08-11T11:42:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-11T11:26:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-11T10:17:00.000-04:00

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

2010-07-18T15:57:00.000-04:00

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

So Where Do We Go From Here?

2010-07-16T13:19:00.000-04:00

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.