Simple Pleasures...

Being the first one in the office to use your favorite toilet in the morning…

The smell of a match that has been struck after someone has taken a dump… This works better than air freshener. I don’t know about you, but vanilla scented poo is just gross.

Privacy while using the toilet…

Not being constipated...

Not running into traffic in the morning…

Knowing you’re the only one in the house drinking out of the orange juice container (this saves on the dirty glasses)…

Waking up in the morning & NOT having to change the 4 y/o's sheets because she wet the bed…

Not having to share your coffee with anyone else in the house…

Clean sheet day…

When all 3 kids cooperate for bed-time…

When all 3 kids cooperate in the morning…

When you cook something ALL 3 kids will eat…

Loose grapes in the bottom of the bag...

That few minutes of silence before the kids are awake...

Waking up, and there is NOT a kid in the bed with you...

Arriving to work on time...

The drive home from work... (This is the last bit of silence I will have for the rest of the day)

And they grow up...

Well, my handsome little man lost his first tooth last night. Isn't that just cutest thing you have ever seen?

I cannot believe he is finally old enough to be losing teeth! It blows my mind. I turned around, and there he was - no longer a baby. How in the heck did that happen? Where did the time go? Was I not paying attention and missed out on something? I sure hope not. It just seems like the other day, he was three years old and I had taught him to say he wouldn't put me in an old-folks home when I grow old (he still says he won't - just ask him).

Let me tell you something about being a single Mom. I LOVE IT!!!! I love being with my kids. I love knowing that I have NEVER missed a softball/baseball game, school program, open house, report card, etc. For the last four years, I have not had to share any of the milestones, with anyone. What do I not like about being a single Mom? Not being able to share those milestones with anyone. I do love the satisfaction of seeing them grow and become their own individual person and knowing that I had a large part in it. I love knowing that I am the major influence in their lives. I also love knowing that THEY know Mommy will always be there, no matter what!

I know that to some of you, this might seem a little self-centered, selfish, etc., but everything I do is done with my children in mind. My two most important titles: Woman of God and Mom!

Amazing...

Isn't it just amazing how one change in your life can effect you so deeply?

I am so thankful for my new job. Not only does it pay better, but it makes me feel better. It is so nice to feel appreciated again. It is also nice to hear that I am doing a good job. Even better is that all of this has put a smile back on my face. It's wonderful to know that when people ask me how I'm doing, I can look at them, with a smile and say "I'm doing great."

I knew that my past job had me really down, but I did not realize to what extreme, until I started the new job. I do not spend the entire drive to work with a nauseating knot in my stomach. I do not sit around on Friday nights dreading having to return to work on Monday.

It is absolutely wonderful to be at peace and to once again have hope. I truly feel the promise in Jeremiah 29:11. I know that God is working things out for our good. I am only ashamed that I ever doubted him. I am humbled...

Presently, I am in that place where I "do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things..." Matt 6:34. I almost feel "carefree." It's a nice feeling for a change. I'm not sure how long this feeling will last, but I fully intend to revel in it, while I can.

I had a date last nite!

SHOCKER!!!! LOL It's the first date I have been on in about a year. I had a good time. We went out to eat and then to play miniature golf. By the time we were at the 5th hole, I remembered why I am not a big miniature golf player. It is not a good game for someone with ADD. LOL Trying to see how many putts it takes to put the ding-dang ball in the hole is NOT my type of fun.

We did also play a few video games, which was fun. I went to try to cash in the tickets & get something for the kids. I thought I had quite a few. I didn't even have enough to get a party favor size playdo. LOL What a flippin' rip-off!!! LOL

So, all this brings me to think that there ARE some really nice guys out there, and one of them found me. It gives me a little more faith that God really does have someone for me, and that I might actually find him, some day.

Where to begin??? What to write???

Well, I'm sitting here, ALONE, and am having one of those times where I feel the need to let my brain "regurgetate." So, here it goes. This will probably be a long read, so I'll categorize it.

Kids
My 4 y/o is absolutely the funniest, most quick-witted child I have ever known. She is either making crack up, or want to hang her up by her ponytaile. LOL The other afternoon, I asked her what she was doing. She said "Playing with my ding-dang Barbie." Monday, we were @ the window @ Dairy Queen, and they had messed up our Blizzard order. She wanted me to tell them, and I quote: "...to get their head out of their butt." I really need to watch what I say around her. The night we ordered country baskets, I placed the huge bag in her lap. She told me the lady needed to be fired for getting them too hot. I cannot take credit for that one. LOL

Miller has been having a few issues, mainly with school. He is OVERLY intelligent and an OVER ACHIEVER. This sounds great, but it's not. When your child is upset because he made 105 on his spelling test, instead of 106, you really need to begin stressing the fact that we do not always have to be perfect. He has also landed yellow for talking quite a bit, which is odd for him. He may talk me to exhaustion at home, but is usually extremely quiet at school. Yesterday, when trying to find out who he was talking to, he informed me "nobody." Well, apparently "nobody," listens and talks back, or he would not be on yellow. LOL

Maggie on the otherhand is extremely laid back when it comes to school and her grades. She is very smart (she had a perfect score on her reading TAKS last year). However, she considered the 74 she had on one of her papers a good grade. I started chuckling, and so did my Mom. Why were we chuckling? Because it reminded us BOTH of a little girl who had the same philosophy many years ago. ME!

New Job
Well, last Friday, when the previous boss sent me home because I had NO voice and couldn't make phone calls or answer the phone, I decided his comment of "Go ahead and do your time sheet and you can go," meant permanently, so I began my new job on Wednesday. it is sooo nice there. All of the ladies in the office are really nice, and so far, there doesn't seem to be a lot of office gossip. We report directly to the attorneys we work for, and not to the office manager. Basically, she handles the business end of the staff, office, etc. The guy I work with pretty much has the same personality I have. We spoke more in 3 days, than my previous boss and I did in 8 mos. It was a welcome change. It was nice to be at home last nite and not already DREADING going to work on Monday. My whole demeanor has changed. I feel so much more relaxed.

Weight, etc.
I'm sure most of you did not know that I used to be a smoker. I finally quit in January of this year. This will explain to all of you my weight gain since that time. As I am high anxiety, I would smoke basically to have something to do. Now, I no longer to that, and I find myself eating instead. Since Dr. Phil insists we overeat for a reason other than a love for food (LOL), I have decided I eat when I get really lonely. My problem is, I get extremely lonely when the kids are either asleep or not at home. Food, my computer & my TV are my constant companions. I really need to find some things to do when the kids are gone. Plus, I need a hobby for when they go to sleep at night. I'm hoping that when we move in with my Mom, I will no longer dread the quietness, when the kids are not around.

Anyway, my best friend (Dana) and I have decided that we are going to look Hot and FAB-U-LOUS by our 40th b-days. Dana's is in 4 mos. That totally FLOORED me. I could not believe we were that close to "It." Mine is in 6 mos. Holy Doo-Doo! I must make some positive changes in my life before that time. I refuse to be an overweight, depressed single Mom. So, pray that I am able to begin making positive changes over the next 8 mos. I want to lose weight, have a closer walk with God, be a better mother and more financially independent. I also want to begin to work on whatever career it is that God has planned for me. I am still trying to discern that exactly that is...