Life Changes...

I am going to share something with you because I need this outlet... I'm sure each of you has been faced with big decisions in your life. When it comes to making those decisions how do you know you're making the right one? Should your decision be based solely on your happiness, the best decision for you right now, or the best decision for your future? There are so many ways one can approach making a life decision it makes me wonder how do you know you're making the best one?

Any ideas, thoughts?

Snow! Snow! Snow!

I am SO excited! It's snowing here this afternoon and I left the office early and spent some time outside with my doggies. Here's a little clip of the fun we had; I'll write more about it later but I am headed back out to play. For all you northerners we don't get snow like this here in Eastern, North Carolina!

Tuesday Tribute

After reading Jay's Halftime Lessons; I really wanted to participate in Tuesday's Tribute. Mine is honoring the woman in my life who has seen me through everything. She has cheered me on when medical and law enforcement professionals; who had decided at my age of 12, I was going to end up a criminal if I didn't change, she was the champion who realized my potential when even I didn't see it myself, she has lifted me up in some very dark times when I was certain there was no light in the future. I can only hope I have a fraction of the character this woman possesses.

When I was twelve my parents welcomed me in to their home as their daughter. I lived all my young years in foster care, shifting from one "family" to the next; never experiencing the feeling of belonging. Today I am 35 and I still have never forgotten the words my mother said to me the first night I was home. I was awakened in the middle of the night from a nightmare and I remember being terrified; she held me and whispered; "you are home and no matter what happens we are never going to let you go. This is where you belong."

Believe me, I spent the next 5-6 years testing her patience and pushing her to limits I'm sure she never knew existed until she met me. I was a strong child, she was a stronger woman. She took me to counseling and heard all the words from professionals when they said; "she's highly intelligent but statistics say that she'll end up preganant and on welfare." She picked me up from the police department when I ran away from home, just so I could show her how independent I was! She wiped my tears when I felt the world closing in around me; she also told me to suck it up when I was trying out for the Teenage Drama Queen.

Everything I am today, a successful woman personally and professionally, all my achievements are a tribute to her. When society was ready to give up on me as a lost cause, she championed me to be better and do better!

I hope when I grow up I'm just like her.

Manic Monday

So on my Monday Ready I vow this week will not be as stressful as last week. Especially since most of my stress last week was my own doing; worrying about my husbands interview & the results.

Isn't it crazy the amount of stress we introduce in our own lives because we fret and worry about things? I don't typically make New year's resolutions because I never keep them and also because I am always trying to grow as a person. The people and situations around me are always teaching me, shaping me, and of course showing me my mistakes. Last week showed me yet again that I need to learn to not stress over the little things; MUCH easier said than done.

So this week, my focus will be "don't stress over the things which are beyond my control." I'm gonna try. I'll let you know next week how I think I did; send me those positive vibes cause this one is gonna be hard!

Peeves

So, those who know me know my two biggest pet peeves. Tardiness and people who don't do what they say they're going to. I'm not sure which one bothers me more, but right now people who don't do what they say they're going to is bothering me worse.

For example, (you knew there was an example coming, didn't you?) my husband had his second interview LAST Friday & was told; "we'll advise all the candidates mid-week of our decision." Has he heard anything? No, nada, nothing, zip! Does this mean he didn't get the job? Possibly; but that is not the point. Don't set the level of expectation and not follow through. It really bothers me when people do this.

This is a big deal to me in this case because my husband is not one to ask questions in an interview. So this time he asks and they do not follow through with that they say they're going to do. Now I know there could be a million reasons as to why they haven't responded yet; such as they haven't decided, he's not the one, etc. But it's still rude & it still bugs me!!!

Blogging

Are you blogging too much if you're dreaming about blogging?

Hmm... The reason I ask is because last night I had such a fitful night of sleeping and I distinctly remember dreaming about blogging. It was so realistic that I could have been blogging in my sleep. But thankfully when I awoke this morning and logged on there was not some unusual (any more than normal) ramblings.

I think I had so much going on in my mind last night before falling asleep that I just couldn't turn my brain off. The lesson to this is, meditate and clear my mind before falling asleep; of course easier said than done most nights.

Argh!

So my husband has interviewed for this GREAT job a few hours from us and the anticipation of not knowing whether he got it is killing me! I mean really killing me. This is such an awesome career opportunity for him and a great chance for us to move back to the city. He is SO calm, doesn't act as if he's on edge at all. Me on the other hand have to sit on my hands to prevent myself from chewing my fingers down to nubs. I would give anything to have his calm demeanor. If we don't hear anything by tomorrow I may need a sedative!

Chewy Update

Okay, as promised here are pics of Chewy. Despite the ten staples he is sooooo cute!

Now this one is at Christmas, he just posed so beautifully for the camera.

This was taken tonight, if you look closely you can see the staples.

Here's a close up, you can really see the staples in this one!

My vet says he'll be okay and in about 10 days the staples can come out. I hope it doesn't leave too bad of a scar. :(

Poor Chewy....

Last night was a little traumatic for me since my little puppy, Chewy was attacked. He had to get about 10 staples on his beautiful face. Chewy is a four month old australian shepherd puppy, and he is sooooo sweet.

He never even whined after the initial attack and was very well behaved at the vet. Can you believe it? They, of course; loved him! My poor, poor puppy. He was so pitiful when he got home, all he did was curl up and go straight to sleep with me. I'll have to attach some pics later, but they're scary! (at least to me)

Quickly

Okay, so I am stealing just a few short moments to share this print. I love it! Something about it draws me in. You need to check out this artist, she is talented and does a great job of taking the simple things and making them in to beautiful paintings or photographs. I love her site, art & books!