Travels

Ok, let me start by saying that I ADORE my family and really do MISS them while I am away on business...but, it is SO nice to get away every now and then!

Since I started this job, I have been able to come to the DC area probably seven or eight times in the last three years...I am so in love with the rich history that surrounds me every time I visit. There's always something new to see and something I haven't done before (aside from the fact that I walked like 15 blocks all alone in the dark, carrying 40 lbs of luggage and a laptop bag last night, it's all good).

Tonight, we went back to Alexandria...one of my favorite places in the WORLD! I adore the quaintness of the town...it's so unique and all of the shops are so cute! I love that you see families walking their dogs down King Street, and I love that there is something for everyone there! If I was wealthy (money wise, because we all know I am "rich" in so many other ways), I could live in Alexandria. If you've never been there, take a trip and see what you've been missing.

Although I do love this place, I so long for the country side...of Union County. Corny, I know, but I cherish that on most roads I drive on a daily basis, I have a memory...from no lights in the curves of New Salem roads, courtesy of Brian Benton, to driving the famliar paths to my very best friend's house, Kelly Simmons...I LOVE where I am from and I am fortunate that I have a sense of belonging! I have been richly blessed my whole life to be around genuine people that genuinely care about me and that I would give my left pinky toe for...not my right one, just my left one.

I have grown up, and am still growing up in a place that is familiar, loving, and beautiful. For the new best friends, aka Donna, to the old ones that I owe so much to, aka Kelly Beth, I am truly blessed. For the aunts and uncles that "should have" been my parents, aka Ann and Larry, to the cousins that were more like brothers, aka Daniel and Chad, I am truly blessed. For the loves I once had, aka nameless, to the REAL love I now share with Bobby, I am truly blessed. I can only hope that my children are as blessed as I am and can share their entire lives with those that matter...I hope you all are blessed where you are and that you too, have your sense of belonging...

Dorothy said it best..."There's no place like home..."

And this is what I call....

Rambling!!!



It's been a while since my last post, so this may seem to go back and forth but I have a lot to say...



Thanksgiving was wonderful, as usual. I am so VERY blessed to have an amazing family. My parents have given so much to me, although they forgot to include grace when they made me, I am still very thankful...My brother, sister, and their spouses mean the world to me! If it weren't for them, I might have already gone insane...and no, I haven't yet ;)! I have the most amazing siblings...God gifted me with a protective older brother and an understanding sister...what more could I ask for? My in-laws are full of love and laughter, and an occasional argument, every time we visit and for that, I am thankful. I am fortunate that I married into a family that is so much like me that I can 100% be myself around them...whether it's cracking jokes or being moody, they get me...and I am SO lucky! My children are precious in every way...they are the light that makes my world go round...I have learned so much from them! My husband keeps me laughing every day...even when we are angry and frustrated with each other and the world, I know I can always count on him to make me laugh. (Although sometimes he embarrasses me...like he did Saturday night with his very weird sense of humor...but, it's OK...I love him for it!) By the way, never, never, never let your husband drink beer around your boss and then let him start rambling about how cool it is that my boss is really like a friend...and PLEASE stop him when he starts to use the "L" word in a sentence...ha ha ha! Love ya, Bobby!



So, last Friday, I worked for a while, but most of the day was spent with my two angels...and the sick dog! Not to get too graphic, but our English Bulldog had the worst diarrhea I had ever seen from a dog. By the third time of cleaning up poo from my bathroom, as that is where he was living at the time, I was so angry, I could have put him outside by himself...yes, I know it was not his fault...but I couldn't help but be angry. Anyway, Saturday morning, up at 7am, dog is still sick...ARGH! I decided that he needed to go to the vet because he was having some other issues that I really won't mention...seriously, it would make you gag...Anyway, Bobby took him to the vet and turns out, one of the other issues was "doggie diaper rash!" Now, he doesn't wear diapers but the tummy being sick apparently caused him to have a severe rash...I felt so bad for the little guy...We were told to give him only bland foods until it cleared up. I am, today, on my third day of cooking the dog his own little meals of rice and chicken or rice and beef...Let's hope he gets better soon!



Ok, the funny part of this weekend...and yes, it was my kids! They absolutely kill me sometimes! Here are some of the quotes that had me in stitches!



Jenna..."Why does daddy have an ASS pack on his head?"...he had a severe migraine and was holding it on his head...she really said ICE but it sounded, with her country accent, like ASS...LOL!



Bryson..."Mom, did Aunt Ally get pregnant while Uncle Michael was in Iraq? Because I thought that the husband had to be here for her to get pregnant..." It was then that I looked at my child and laughed hysterically in his face...After I calmed myself down, I explained to him that she was pregnant before he left and that how she got pregnant was something we would discuss when he was a little older...he's only 7!



Bryson..."Mom, I know that babies can come out of your butt or your belly..." WHAT??????? I think he's been watching too much Animal Planet!



Jenna..."Mommy!!!!!! Did you know that the cupcake maker doesn't just make cupcakes? You can make COOKIES, CAKE, AND CUPCAKES!!!!" (she's getting an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas, so she's going to be REALLY excited!)



Last, but not least, from Jenna..."Mommy, you know if we decorate the Christmas tree, we have to have hot cocoa. Santa would NOT like it if you did not allow me and Bryson to drink hot cocoa while we decorate the tree. And you better do what Santa wants if you want any Christmas presents...or he'll bring you a COLD."



So, my weekend was full of fun, anger, excitement and mostly laughter. I can't think of one person that I was around in the last five days that doesn't make me smile and laugh...I love that I am so blessed...even when I'm mad at dog poo, I am blessed! Oh, AND I got a pound of Starbucks coffee and a Starbucks gift card this weekend...so BONUS!!!! This week is gonna be good!

Oh, the funny things children say!

Hello to a new week! I hope you all had wonderful weekends!

If you know my children, you know that they are notorious for saying some pretty funny things...So, I thought I'd give you all a little laugh today and put some of Jenna's quotes on here!

From Jenna (5)...my beautiful, blond curly haired, blue eyed beauty...(note that most of these talk about boys who want to kiss her...she's a beauty, I tell ya!)

"Mom, Donavon wants to kiss me...I mean, he has handsome hair and I think some girls might fall in love with him for his handsome hair, but I do NOT want to be in love right now..."

"Mom, the boy that said he wants to kiss me on the playground was dressed like a farmer today...does he think I want to kiss a boy in overalls and a plaid shirt?...I do NOT want to kiss a farmer!"

"I got another Junipee Jones book at the library!" (She was referring to Junie B. Jones books...they are great!)

"Can we go to Bur.....long pause.....ger king today?" (she has a hard time saying burger, so she always has a long pause between those syllables!)

"Mommy, when I grow up, I want to have crazy hair, just like you!" (I hope she meant curly, but who knows?)

"Actually, Bryson, Hunter IS in love with me. He told me that when he gets bigger, he will buy me a castle and a pony...and that means he is in love with me" (oh, how nice...who is Hunter? and where does he live?)

"I don't want to go to aunt Jenn's wedding...I don't want to see her kiss Brad...don't they know you can't kiss until you get MARRIED?" (let's hope she keeps thinking that way!)

And one last one...
"Mommy, when I grow up, can I still live with you? Since I never want to get married, I won't have kids and you won't have a headache all the time from grand kids being in the house because...it'll just be me!"
(my response? Of course, Jenna, you can live with me as long as you want to...man, I love my kids!)

I hope you got a little chuckle today!

Lessons learned from my seven year old

Today, I must go and pretend to be nice to the dreaded diva...if you know me, you know what I'm talking about! But I won't harp on that...

Last night, I did a little Christmas shopping and it was loads of fun. My kids LOVE to shop for other people. I am so fortunate that I was blessed with two very giving children. Bobby, my husband, usually doesn't like to Christmas shop, but it was his idea to go, so I took that as a good sign.

This morning, my son reminded me that his school is having a canned foods drive. He begged me to let him take every can of food we have, so I let him (hesitantly because I knew that meant I would have to go back to the store today). As we were making our way to school, Bryson started talking about how many cans of food we had in the bags and how many people would be so happy to get a can of corn. He said to me, "mommy, do you know how lucky we are that we can eat?" Then, he added, "And we get to go to restaurants all the time and some people NEVER get to go out to eat." It was then that I realized that me having to go back to the grocery store was not a big deal and I shouldn't be aggravated that I can go back to the store...I can afford to go get more food...and the people who were getting my cupboards couldn't. Needless to say, I felt like a selfish child and my seven year old was the adult...

I guess you can say that my lesson was learned today...and it was all about giving. Give what you can to others around you...pay it forward!
The holidays are coming...be thankful for what you have...and learn to share. That's what Thanksgiving and Christmas are all about!

And the rain came down...

And the floods came up...

It's such a cold, windy and rainy day in North Carolina. I hope it is warm wherever you are!

So, today, I am working on juvenile crime data in Union County. It is amazing how many young people fall into the system each year because of poor choices. It also disheartens me that the system is failing so many of them, especially youth of color. There are so few services available for young men and women, how can we expect them to change? When mom is working three jobs, dad is in jail or not in the picture, and grandma, who is in her 80s, is trying to raise them, how can we expect change? When the system throws them into detention, instead of offering hope to them, how can we expect change? How can we expect change when we are doing so little to offer a means for change?

Just a thought: what are you doing to assist in the cycle of change? No matter what your field of expertise is, you can foster change...be a mentor, volunteer at a youth center, donate to a local non-profit that serves these youth. If we want to make the world a better place, we better start with the youth of today...they are our future...

I challenge anyone who reads this blog to make a commitment, that some time in the next six months, do something for the youth in your community. No matter how big or small the gesture, it does make a difference in someone's life...even your own.

One final thought...When I first began my career at a local non-profit, I had a young girl that I was working with who was 13 years old. This beautiful, funny, and smart young woman made me laugh hysterically one day. I proceeded to give her a hug and tell her that I loved her. It was then that she burst into tears...When I asked what was wrong, she said, "No one has ever said that to me before."

How can we expect change when we allow young people not to hear those words or feel the power of our love? That young lady stuck with me and I think of her often...SHE is why I do what I do.

Reflections

For quite some time now, I have wanted to blog. I love to write but have been out of practice, and now that I'm headed back to school, it feels like the perfect time. So, here it is. Welcome to my world....
A little about my world:
I am a married, working mom of two, Bryson, 7, and Jenna, 5. They are the hardest but most rewarding parts of my life. Bryson is brilliant in every way possible...He's into science and nature, music, art, anything you can imagine. Plus, he has the biggest heart of any 7 year old I know...really, he probably has the biggest heart of anyone I know. He hurts when the world is hurting and is genuinely concerned when others don't have what they need or are sick. He's going to change the world...I know this. Jenna is the shining light in all of us that we miss on gloomy days. She is bouncy, energetic, and always smiling (unless, of course, she's yelling at me that she's going to grandmas house because she's mad at me). She is strong and determined and I can only hope that the ways of the world don't change that. I am constantly amazed by her beauty, inside and out. I thank God every day for those two kids.

OK, enough about my kids for now...

Today is Veteran's day and I have a few thoughts I want to share...
We need to honor those in service every day...whatever your beliefs on the wars, those men and women are sacrificing more than we can understand. I look at my brother, who has done three tours in Iraq, and all three times, he had to leave his wife and children behind. The agony on his face as he walked away from them was more than I ever imagined seeing. Not only was he brave, but his family was brave too. So, honor those in the military and their families every day because they are worth it...they fight for your freedom and your safety.

Lastly, keeping in mind that it is Veteran's Day, remember this...what you have is more than many people could hope for. If you have family, food on your table, and a roof over your head...be grateful. Be grateful every day for what God allows you to have and be grateful for who you are. We are all unique individuals with much to offer the world. Find your strengths and use them to make the world a better place...you can do it! Too many times, we forget this. We forget the sacrificies of those that lived before us and we forget to take joy in little things...me included. Don't take tomorrow for granted because it may not be granted.

I once posted as my facebook status "I wish more people would have the attitude of "yay me" instead of "woe is me"." That rings true today and every day.

It is my goal to post at least once a week so check back in on my world...where the door is always open! Have a wonderful evening!