My Grown Up Girl

We enjoyed another beautiful snow day today and lucky for me a two-hour delay, two days in a row! Gotta love it, because it just reminds me of all of those fun SNOW DAYS when we were in school. You know...back when we were a little thinner, had a little more energy and were fairly innocent! Well those days are memories now and I realize that as my 13-year-old step-daughter experiences her first Cheerleading Competition recently. The girls won the MOST SPIRITED which I think is awesome. In Cheerleading and in life I think it's most important that we try to always have a good attitude! Some of us have a little more spirit than others! Here's Morgan and friends enjoying themselves as they wrap up the 2009 season! Go girls!

My handsome hubby and his mini-ME!

This is my family

So this is my family! I am married to a very wonderful man and I have a very sweet step-daughter. We took these pictures back in the fall and used them on our Christmas cards. Thanks to our pal Greg Gay for lending us his talents as a photographer. If only every day could be spent with your family, with a smile and in nature being lulled by the sound of the flowing water...maybe we could remember what life is really all about rather than stressing over what it's not.

Please pray for my Dad.

Here we are...Dad's girls. Our Dad is in the hospital right now and he's very sick again. For years Dad has been dealing with diabetes and heart problems, and it's really taken a toll on his body. At the same time, my sister and I are dealing with some not-so-pleasant family issues and we could all use your prayers. Please pray for Dad's health and please pray that our family will move past our past issues. Father God, I pray that my heart will soften towards people that speak against me and are unkind and selfish. Father, I pray for those who find a sick pleasure in hurting others and Father, please remind me when I judge others, just how much it hurts. Bless our family with good health. Thank you for the MANY blessings that we enjoy every day! In your name we pray, AMEN.

Back to Work People!

Well it was back to work for me today, but we had a two hour delay so that was nice! There was still a little snow on the ground, so we took our time getting to work. I dropped off Morgan for a little quality time with her step-sisters and then I headed on in. The day started with everyone standing around talking about their SNOW DAY happenings. Some were still smudging on the facial cream after a nice cold day brought chapped faces! Some went sledding and riding 4-wheelers...ME, I was lazy and snug inside my warm, quiet house. Big difference compared today which brings a smidgen of frustration! What's up with people who are so bold as to walk right through your door, never knocking, never asking politely to come in! What do you do with people like that? Should you set them straight from the beginning or just roll your eyes like I did, try to ignore them and continue working...hey they weren't respectful to me either - right? Hmf! People puzzle me! One thing's for sure...that's why I enjoyed my one and probably only snow day - I'm usually never rude to myself so all the more reason to stay home...snug and cozy in the armchair!

Watching the Snow!

I went to bed last night with every intention of getting up this morning to wipe the sleep out of my eyes, peek out the window at the snow and then began pulling on all the snow gear required to get out the door in the first snow of 2009! Incidentally, the first snow of the year usually occurs on my birthday, which thankfully was yesterday meaning that selfishly all of my birthdays celebrations were not delayed by the weather! Yaay!

I understand that I'm 30 now and that it's time to be "big girl," but I do love to celebrate my birthday with no interruptions! Seems like the last three to four years have been altered by some sort of winter weather. Anyway, today is the first SNOW DAY that I remember having in a while! Our manager made a wise decision (I think) to call for a snow day - I mean let's face it! We work our lives away anyway, why not enjoy one day in the snow? Why not remember what it was like to be a kid again - if even just for a day?

So my husband woke up early and headed out for work, he does love to get out and explore in the snow, so I'm here cuddled up in the chair in this gosh awful looking warm blanket, sipping on Starbucks coffee contemplating just what I want to do today! Shall I bundle up and go out and take pictures of the snow? Should I just spruce up around the house and do a little laundry? Should I turn on the Wii and hog the machine all to myself for the day? Who knows! The choices are endless! The cool thing (and the wierd thing) is I have a SNOW DAY and I don't have to be at work ALL day! Who says we can't act like kids at least every now and then? Thank you God for your wonderful creations! YOU are awesome to say the least!

So this is what 30 feels like...

Today I celebrated my 30th birthday. Last night I couldn't sleep well...I suppose I was a little anxious about the BIG day and the BIG 3-0! It's wo wierd knowing that I'm leaving my 20's behind never to be revisited again! The 20's were something alright...but they were plaqued with sickness and a lot of sadness too. In my 20's I lost three important people in my life...my brother at age 16, my mother-in-law and my father-in-law and all within a year of each other. During that time I also became a college graduate, a career woman, a wife, a step-mother and a few choice other things I suppose. I also became a caregiver to my Dad. I'm looking to my 30's as a time for reflection and growth and change. I'm planning to make the next 10 years, my best 10 years ever, seizing each day and appreciating every moment that God has given me. Today, I remember that even when it seems that people are so quick to judge me and try to bring me down...I have so many people that love me and I'm so happy about that! Today, I truly realize that for every person that tries to cause pain in my life, there are three more in my corner cheering me on...I want to say thank you for that! Thank you for being my Cheerleaders in life, because let's face it - we could all use one! Thanks to my best Cheerleader, my hubby Keith! He's been such a trooper and he's hung with me for the past decade through thick and thin! He also threw me one heck of a party Saturday night to celebrate ME and I hope he knows just how much I love and appreciate him! God bless!