The End...Or Is It?

Sometimes life, and things in it, need to be reassessed. This is one of those times and this blog is one of those things.

I have discovered that I love to blog. I have enjoyed it so much more than I ever thought that I would. I have no intentions of stopping now, however...

I have come to a place where I think I need a redo...a fresh start. This blog has been great, but, I think it would be best for me to shut this one down and give it another go elsewhere.

Thank you to all of my followers and readers for being here and reading my ramblings. You have helped me so much with your interest. For those of you interested, please feel free to leave me a message here and I'll be happy to give you the address to my new blog. This should cut out the riff raff, don't ya think? *grins*

Give myself a "do-over"? Don't mind if I do...

Be Gentle With Me

I am a strong, independent woman. I can take care of myself, my kids, my home, my job, my business, my finances. I am woman, hear me roar!!

I am also a woman. I need to feel loved, nurtured, cared for, taken care of, protected, cherished, treated with tenderness. I am woman, protect my heart!!

I do what I have to do to take care of my family and as a single mom, I'm happy to do it. But deep down, I am still a woman that needs to be treated with TLC. There is a fine line between the two. I want to teach my daughter that it's okay to want to be taken care of...it's how she was built. And I want my boys to know that it is ingrained in them to want to be the care takers.

Perhaps I'm too sensitive or needy. If that's the case, then so be it. God created me to be the woman that I am, so who am I to argue with the Creator of the Heavens and Earth??

Find that fine line and walk it as a woman? Don't mind if I do...

Not Two, Not Three, Not Four...

Ahhh...at last. Don't mind if I am...

Yaz, Please

In keeping with the music theme of this week, I reached into the 80's.

This band was one of my favorites and I loved their album "Upstairs at Eric's"...still do, as a matter of fact. I have so many great rememberances attached to all of the songs on this CD. It's nice to go back and reminisce, sometimes.

This weekend, I challenge you to dust off those memory banks and pull up some of the music you listened to when you were younger. You may be pleasantly surprised at the smile you will have when the memories come flooding back. That's one of the best things about music!!

If you haven't heard of Yaz, then please, do enjoy.

Only you? Don't mind if I do...

Part Two

As promised...



Fall in love with the music of Christina Perri? Don't mind if I do...

Introducing...

I heard this song on the radio recently, and fell in love with this artist. Christina Perri has a gorgeous voice, and haunting lyrics. Put that together with this moving video, and this song will stir your emotions.

I look forward to searching for more Christina Perri, but for now, enjoy...




Broaden my horizons? Don't mind if I do...

"I am 100% positive..."

Don't mind if I do...*grins*

Hey You...GET A LIFE!

Well, guess what, friends...I have a stalker. Not the nice, "you're so pretty", admire me from afar, kind of stalker. Instead, I'm the happy recipient of the mean, hateful, uninformed, COWARDLY, "you're old, and you are a failure in every aspect of your life" kind of stalker. Nice, huh?

I have received two anonymous emails in the last couple of months. They have been from bogus email addresses, through my company website, and naturally, they were not signed. The messages in both were full of hate, venom, untruth, accusation, assumption and judgement. The person behind these emails is someone that knows me, or thinks they do.

I have chosen, until now, to let these emails go unmentioned to anyone, with the exception of a couple of close friends and family members. However, I have now decided to write about them here.

My reasoning for this is simple. I believe that this person reads this blog. As a matter of fact, I'm certain of it.

Did you know that there are ways to search email addresses...even bogus ones? I didn't.
Did you know that there are ways to track IP addresses to locate the source of said emails? I didn't.
Did you know that there are laws against this exact thing and that I can file charges? I didn't.

I do now!

I'm pretty sure I know who my stalker is. Not just the fact that this person is a sad, delusional, evil, hurtful, cowardly, lonely individual that has nothing better to do than to throw hateful stones at others, under a blanket of anonymity, but actually WHO this person is.

The truth is, I'm not angry at this person. I don't hate them. I feel very sorry for them. Sorry that their heart is so black and cold, that they feel justified to say these things to me, for no reason whatsoever. Sorry that they don't have the guts to say these things to me face to face. Sorry that when it's all said and done, they don't know me at all. But most of all, sorry that they couldn't possibly know or serve the God that I do. My God is forgiving, full of grace and mercy and loves me...warts and all.

So, to my stalker, I say this...

I forgive you for the hateful things you have said to me. I will pray for you.

I have a feeling I won't be hearing from my stalker again...unless I contact them first. *winks*

Put an end to all this stalker nonsense? Don't mind if I friggin' do...

Reunited, and It Feels So Good...

Friends...

Last night, I had the chance to get together with several people from my past. A childhood friend of ours was unexpectedly killed last week. The funeral is today, so after the visitation, a group got together at a restaurant. It was one big walk down memory lane!!

I saw people I hadn't seen in years. With the phenomenon that is Facebook, I have reconnected with the bulk of them in the recent past, but for the most part, I hadn't been in the same room with these people for a very long time. It was nice.

We told stories, got caught up with each other's lives and laughed...A LOT! So many memories came flooding back to me. Old friendships, first loves, stupid fights between friends, and all the fun we had when we were growing up.

In the midst of it all, I had a few revelations...

~ Life can be taken from you in the blink of an eye. Love others and tell them often.
~ Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. Whew...at least I'm not alone!
~ Some friendships never die, no matter how much time passes.
~ Some emotions never die, no matter how much time passes.
~ Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them. (thank you, Michael W. Smith)
~ Most people think everyone else looks younger/better than they do themselves. Glad I'm not alone there, either!!

The gathering was a sweet time of getting caught up, reminiscing, laughter and friendship. I wish it had been under better circumstances, but the idea of getting together was to celebrate our friend's life, even in his untimely death. I think that was accomplished last night, and it will continue as everyone remembers him at his funeral today. We know that he is rejoicing in Heaven, this very minute, with God himself and we will reunite with him someday. Oh, the stories we will tell...

Get reunited? Don't mind if I do...

So Long, 2010!!

New Year's Eve...once again.

It's the time where people think back over the year that is drawing to a close...blessings, blunders and everything in between. I am no exception.

For me, 2010 was a year full of learning, losing and gaining. Learning about myself, learning about others and how to relate the two. Losing my way as well as some relationships. Gaining much needed perspective and a few relationships, once thought to be lost.

I made mistakes...we all usually do. But what I love about this NYE, is that I can look back on the year and see the lessons I learned and the mistakes I fixed. I would like to think that this was a pivotal year for me. One that is ending on a wonderful note.

I have much anticipation for what 2011 will bring. I give it to the Lord for what HE has in store for me and I CAN'T WAIT!!!

To all my friends (those that have come and gone), family, acquaintances and blog readers: As I wrap up my final post of 2010, I want to wish you all of God's blessings on the eve of this new year. Put Him first and it WILL be the most blessed year for each of you. That's MY plan!

This will be the best New Year's Eve I've had in a very long time and I am looking forward to ushering in 2011 the right way!

Have a kiss at midnight? Don't mind if I do...



~ this is one of my favorite versions of this song ~

Who Ya Gonna Call?

Sometimes ghosts creep up when we're least expecting it, in the most unlikely of places or times. Memories, songs or notes from your past that are in your face, before you know it, taunting you.

I have been dealing with ghosts this morning. Thankfully for me, I have my own personal ghostbuster.

Make the call? Don't mind if I do...

Tattle-tale

When we were kids, we were always told not to tell on someone else. "No one likes a tattle-tale!" We also were told that honesty is the best policy. Those things were embedded in my mind from a young age. I tell my kids the same things, when the opportunity arises.

What happens when, in order to fulfill one, you must do the other?

In the interest of being honest, because it IS the best policy, afterall, I had to tattle. The twist? I had to tattle on myself!!! Man...they didn't talk about that when we were kids.

***Transparency Alert***

There have been times in my life that I have been less than honest...downright, dishonest, if you want to know the truth. It is these times that haunt me. Some of the biggest mistakes of my life came from dishonesty and I will forever pay the consequences for them.

I made a decision to live my life honestly...no matter what! I have done that and will continue to do so. It is the best policy afterall.

To continue my honest living, I had to tell on myself. It was painful to say, and even more painful to hear, I'm certain. However, in the long run, it was the right thing to do, for the right reasons, and I believe, it will pay off in the end.

I hope I'm right...

Be a tattle-tale? Don't mind if I do...

The "I Love You" Conundrum

Is there an exact right amount of times to say "I love you"?

You would think the more you say it or hear it, the better it is. I'm not sure this is the case. Sometimes when it's said too much, it gets watered down. On the other hand, if it's not said enough, it may cause the other person to question your feelings. I'm certain there is a balance in there somewhere. My guess is, the right amount will be different for each individual. You have to find what works for you and your loved ones.

I usually lean on the side of saying it more rather than less. I like to say it, because I like to hear it, and I mean it, sincerely, every time.

It is my hope that it doesn't seem diluted...

Find the balance between watery and questioning? Don't mind if I do...

Party of One

I made a decision today. I am going to start another blog.

When I started this one, it was for me...my thoughts and my feelings about whatever it is that was going on with me at the moment. As time has gone on, it has become less FOR me, and more ABOUT me. There is a difference. I have to sometimes censor myself, given who I know (and don't know) is reading my posts on a regular basis. I love that people are interested in what I might say (if even a little bit or out of morbid curiosity), however, there are some things that I just can't write and sometimes I NEED to write what is on my mind.

I have never been a journaler...it never interested me. Blogging, on the other hand, has proven to be fun, and often times, therapeutic for me. It becomes less effective when I have to be so selective in what I write, given my audience.

Therefore, I will start a blog for me and my heart from me and my brain...for my eyes only (there is a title in there somewhere, I believe)!

We'll still meet here on a regular basis. I have tons of things just rolling around in my brain, dying to be written. Please don't take it personally that you're not invited to this party...sometimes a girl just needs her alone time.

Continue my blogging therapy? Don't mind if I do...

Fire Away!

BEEEEEP....

Out of the office? Don't mind if I am...

Grease Monkey?

There is a reason that women don't typically fix their own cars, and not just for the reason shown in this VERY tongue-in-cheek picture.

We are girls. As such, we are usually not wired to know how, nor to even care about things like oil changes, brake jobs, realignments or any of that other junk that cars need...that's what boys are for. Unfortunately, these are all very important things that need to be tended to, lest you find yourself stranded on the side of the road in need of even more manly assistance. I am learning to do these things for myself, but I still find the need, from time to time, to lean on the male species to get me through. I think that's okay.

Men and women are very different. God created us exactly how He wanted us to be. I'm fairly certain it was intended to not have grease under MY well manicured fingernails. For the record, I am COMPLETELY okay with that!!!

For those women out there that can change their own flat tire or the oil in their car, I say: GOOD FOR YOU! Now...could you pass me that nail polish?

Let the boys do the dirty work? Don't mind if I do...

Say Hey...

My friend Amy posted this on my Facebook wall yesterday. I double dog dare you to sit still during this song...it can't be done!!!

Thank you, ASH, for this much needed pick me up!!




Have a dance party in my chair? Don't mind if I do...

The Perfect Country and Western Song

Ladies and Gentlemen...I present to you, the greatness that IS David Allen Coe!

A little Texas fun today? Don't mind if I do...

Heading In

Often times the unknown can be scary. Scary or not, sometimes we have to move into uncharted waters. We can't let our fears rob of us of potential joy. I'm fairly certain that Christopher Columbus had at least a minimal amount of trepidation as he headed toward, what was thought to be, the edge of our flat earth. If he had given in to his fear, our world globe would look very different.

Be Columbus? Don't mind if I do...