Monday, April 25, 2011

Happy Birthday, my darling daughter!

24 years ago today, I gave birth to my 9 lb. tubby baby daughter. She of the smiling eyes and bright personality. She was truly a gift from the moment I laid eyes on her.
She joined her 2 year old brother in our home, and I knew that God smiled down on me and blessed me.
I knew that all the hardships of childhood and my teenage years were in preparation for the love and happiness that would become my adulthood.
Jenn is now a sailor, serving our country proudly in the U.S. Navy. I may be a little on the prejudiced side, but I think the Navy is better for having her on their team.
So, happy birthday, you wonderful child. I thank God that He chose you to fit into my arms 24 years ago.
Love you dearly, Sweet Pea!
Your ultra proud Mom.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Conundrum

We're all faced with them, right?
Here's mine:
I can only walk for exercise now. Well, that & ride my NEW BIKE, but whatever I choose, I may pay a price with my right knee in terrible pain afterwards.
Yesterday on my (late) lunch break, I walked 2.4 miles, all over town. ALLLLL over town.
My knee, the one I had surgery on in October, is paying a price for that exercise.
But when I exercise like that, I sleep so well. And as a lifelong lousy sleeper, it's such a treat for me to sleep soundly.
And I generally feel so much better after a good bout of exercise.
Here's the question: Do I go ahead and push myself, knowing that uncooperative knee is going to give me a problem, or do I become a sloth and do nothing for fear of the pain?
Ha! I think I know my answer, and if you know me at all, you know my choice as well.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

I have a bicycle!

I finally got my dream bicycle! It's an Electra Townie 7 speed ladies bicycle- with a wicker basket on the front. So cute!
I have been desiring this particular bike for so long and now it's mine! Yesterday, I took several short rides, just in the immediate neighborhood. Feeling as poorly as I do lately, I don't know how far I can get before I get into trouble & can't get home. So I kept those trips local.
What fun- I'm so excited!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Empty Nest

Raising children is wonderful, it is difficult. The truth of the matter is probably this: if you care enough to give parenthood your best effort, it's probably the best thing you've ever done and the hardest thing you've ever done.
You literally give your heart, soul, and every ounce of love and energy to this job. And if you're a parent, you know that sometimes the children take your love and fling it right back at your feet.
But then....... they are grown and gone. The house becomes yours again, the only messes to clean up are the minimal messes you create for yourself, the electricity bill drops by more than 50%, and if you're a lucky parent, you have a couple of decent human beings out there, making their way in this world.
It took years to get my son and daughter raised, and yet, it went by so quickly.
The fact is, out of everything, good and not so good, that I've accomplished in more than half a century on this planet, the raising of my 2 kids is the job of which I'm most proud.
I am now, and I will always be, Mom. And that's quite an achievement.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Stupid headaches

I've had headaches ever since I can remember, even as a child walking home from elementary school, I hurt so badly I wasn't sure I would make it home.
50 years later, and I'm dealing with a 2 day (thus far) doozy. They are exhausting. I hate hurting like this.
I'm bad company and easily upset when I'm in this much pain.
I left work an hour early just so I could come home to hide out and sit quietly.
I just want to feel better. Is that too much to ask?

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Job Market

My son is getting ready to start a driving job with a new company. This one does not have a terminal in Atlanta and so he seems a bit negative about it. Where will he park his rig when he comes in on home time? When will they assign his truck?
These seem like very small things. I told him that sometimes- and goodness knows I have had my fair share of jobs- the job that starts out looking like it will be the worst one, much to one's surprise, goes down in one's history as being a favorite job. I hope that will be true in this case, for my son.
My online friend D. began a new job too. She's been out of the job force for a period of time. The landing of a job has been a trial because as we all know, this period of time in this country is a particularly tough one for job hunters. But she found the type of medical front office job she has been looking for.
Then I saw  former coworker C. in church this morning. She has changed jobs again and is working at a social services department job in Williamson. This young lady can seem to land a job in a heartbeat, bad economy or no.
So the jobs are out there, they may not be the "job-dream-come-true" but the good news is, it's not as dire as the doomsayers would have us believe.
I have hope for our future.