Multiple Personalities in the form of the Seven Dwarfs! CRAZY!

YES!  I am convinced that I have a Multiple Personality Disorder that links me to most of Snow White's Seven Dwarfs!  I came to this conclusion yesterday morning when my alarm awoke me from my peaceful slumber to remind me that, TODAY, was my first day back to the 'Coal Mine'. I was SLEEPY and that alarm was a VERY clear representation of the 'whistle' blowing to call all workers back to the mine.  I must admit, in my very sleepy state, that I was bewildered, befuddled and slightly confused by this sudden awakening, and it was at that moment that I began to experience a definite personality change.  Yes, I hate to admit it, but I, like Sybil, morphed into a different character entirely.  My thought pattern changed, my attitude changed, the 'voices' in my head took on an new tone, and suddenly, I was...

GRUMPY! Oh! how I grumbled and mumbled.  I certainly did NOT deserve to be awoken from my peaceful slumber to face a day of work, especially after I had just come off of the most LOVELY of holidays!  I muttered under my breath about the injustice of having to crawl out of my warm bed, and into the chilly air of my bedroom.  I growled about having to 'get ready' for the day with 'real clothes, make up and hair done', instead of  my vacation look which included 'pajamas, no make up, and hair in a permanent ponytail'.  I growled as I stumbled down the stairs to make my coffee, and croaked as I put the mug to my lips, and then SUDDENLY, another personality shift!  What was going on?  I was seriously considering psychiatric assistance as I changed from Grumpy to....

HAPPY! As I stood there with my steaming cup of "Donut House - Cinnamon Roll' coffee in my palms, and a marvelous homemade 'vegan' blueberry muffin (yes, I am STILL sticking with my new vegan diet!),  I smelled the coffee and tasted the fresh blueberries, and I quickly became happy over the fact that I had food, a warm, delicious, fragrant cup of coffee, and a job to go to, when so many are looking for employment.  I had friends at my job, whom I respect and love, whom I had not seen since vacation started, and students who were excited to share all about their  Christmas vacations.  And, I was simply happy over the fact that I woke up to face another day!  What more does one really have to be grateful for than these comforts; family, food, friends, a home, a job, LIFE!  I was happy because I was counting even the smallest of blessings!  BUT, yet again, there was another personality change in the making. I felt my brain fighting the next personality, as if it were a force trying to take over my entire being, and indeed, a NEW and different personality emerged and  it was...

DOPEY!  Yep, that was me.  I had been away from work for 2 weeks, and I was feeling slightly nervous about going back and teaching music to my eager pupils!  Could I dredge up the excitement and enthusiasm needed to engage these eager young minds?  After all, I was feeling quite DOPEY from all of the Christmas parties, the sweets and meals, the late nights, the CHRISTMAS REVELING! Was I up to the task of 'performing' for and 'creating' an enthusiasm for music in the minds of my students?  I thought long and hard, as much as my Dopey brain would allow me, and it was at that moment the last and final personality pushed through to lay my worries to rest!  The next and final personality to present itself was...

DOC! Yes the voice of reason broke through! I had made it though my Sleepy personality, my Grumpy grumbler, my Happy 'count my blessings' dwarf, my Dopey doubting demon, and had arrived at my final destination, "DOC", the voice of reason, the purveyor of sanity in my multiple personality scenario! I thought the thoughts of a person with wisdom and insight into the mish-mash of personal transformations, and as I 'thought my thoughts' and analyzed my personalities, I came to the conclusion that, I was NOT someone going through a SYBIL LIKE MULTIPLE PERSONALITY CRISIS. I am simply a normal individual, experiencing the same thoughts and emotions that any NORMAL person experiences when being awoken at 5:15 a.m. faced with the prospect of returning to work after a wonderful two week vacation. And my logical DOC like personality also helped remind me that is just fine to experience these emotions and differences in personality. And chances are, I was still going to feel like a "SNEEZY" allergy moment some time during the day, and I may, though not likely, experience a "BASHFUL" moment! All of these multifaceted personalities, when mixed, shaken and pressed together, may look like a lump of coal from the mines, but in reality after some polishing and perfecting in the form of 'life circumstances, and 'hard knocks', NO LUMP OF COAL, but a BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND waiting to shine in all of its brilliance

We are all made up of different personalities that present themselves at different times, and that is what makes each of us so unique and so absolutely CRAZY wonderful! Rejoice in, and embrace the different facets of your personality. Work on chipping away at the rough spots and jagged edges that you don't like, and polish and perfect your best qualities, so you can reveal the INNER DIAMOND that is waiting to shine brilliantly for the world to see... your CRAZY Uniqueness!




Uniquely and Crazily Yours,

Patti

A CRAZY CHANGE...

That's right! I am making a CRAZY CHANGE as the New Year begins, and it totally involves my eating habits! I am a lover of ALL foods, ANY nationality, ANY course... from salads to dinner to desserts. I enjoy trying new things and usually love it all! Indian, Mexican, Italian, Thai, Seafood, you name it, there are very few things I don't simply love.




When I turned 40, and stepped onto the scale, I was reminded of the comedian Vicki Lawrence's quote: "after 40 everything heads south for the winter"! I looked at the scale and thought to myself, I shall not descend to the south except in the proximity of where I live. Therefore, a change in diet is in order. Thank goodness a blessing in disguise named "GWEN" has come along to encourage, cajole, and all but cook a Vegan meal for me! Love you Gwen! Seriously, I believe people are put into your lives for a reason, and along comes a new friend to advise, guide and give direction in the way of healthy eating... and she used the magic words, "YOU'LL FEEL SO SKINNY"! Well hop down, that was all I needed to hear!




So with my friends guidance, a list of stores to find the correct ingredients, and some recipes to boot, I have ventured out into the Vegan lifestyle. I went to Publix for a few items today, and felt like a kid in a candy shoppe, yet in reality I was simply an adult in a health food aisle... how IRONIC! I had so much fun pouring over foods that would be healthier for me, and with relish, I picked my breads, my fruits and veggies, and my TOFU! Now I have to admit, that the word TOFU simply intimidates me... but then the words, "You'll feel SO skinny' popped back in my mind, and my ego overruled my intimidation, and I placed TOFU in my cart with confidence and relish.




It is impossible for me to do anything half way or haphazardly! If I am going to do something, I am going to do it with gusto, excitement, and raw determination. SO, I came home armed with my ingredients, and prepared to fool my family into 'thinking' they were eating a fat ridden, meat laden, greasy chili... But I giggled as I chopped my onions, added my peppers, and 3... 3 DIFFERENT kinds of beans. I rubbed my hands together with a gleam in my eye as i added tomatoes and spices galore... and as it simmered, I snickered as they kept asking how soon it would be ready! They are eating as I type, and as of yet, I have heard no complaints. Little do they know that they are guinea pigs in my diabolical plan of turning myself and them into a healthier happier family!




I've have already tasted, and tested, and given a 5 star rating to this recipe, and I can say, with the enthusiasm that usually pours out of me, I am EXCITED about eating healthier in 2011! Now you may say, "HOW is that part of her crazy life?" It is crazy because, I am so busy that dinner has to be easy, fast and quick to prepare. BUT I say to you, "HEY I AM CRAZY"... I am willing to give it a shot! I am insane enough to try something new if it means a healthier happier me! I am willing to invest the time and effort into cooking a meal that will be good for my family! AND, I invite you along for the ride. So with that said, I will post my "VEGAN CHILI" recipe, tweaked here and there with a few more herbs and spices and a few more tomatoes! Try it! I dare you. YOU NEVER KNOW! You just might like it!




And AHA! The verdict is in, hubby and kids could NOT believe there was no meat, and that it was a VEGAN dish! Their exact words in describing the chili.... "I NEVER would have known it was vegan if you had not told me." So, as I rap up this blog, and pat myself on the back, I hope that you will find ways to make your year a healthier year! You never know where a walk down the health food aisle in Publix may take YOU!




Love, laugh and HAPPY HEALTHY EATING,




Patti







Patti's Vegan Chili:

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

2 cups chopped onion

1 chopped green pepper

1 chopped yellow pepper

2 garlic cloves minced

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. chili powder

1 package. McCormick Chili seasoning

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 (28 oz.) crushed tomato

1 cup tomato juice (leave this out if you want less liquid)

2 (16 oz.) cans black beans rinsed and drained

1 (15 oz.) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained




Preparation:

Heat oil in large pot. Add onions, peppers, and garlic; saute 5 minutes or until tender. Add sugar and remaining ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Serve in a bowl and WAIT! Just wait, and soon you will hear the sighs of contentment and the gasps of surprise as you tell them... YOU ARE EATING VEGAN!

Waiting for the CRAZINESS TO BEGIN!

Bring it on 2011! I am excited for every CRAZY opportunity, experience, adventure and crazy new friend that comes my way! I love to know that I have a BRAND NEW YEAR ahead of me that is filled with new possibilities, new projects, new adventures. Thinking about a new year for me is like imagining a clean canvas just waiting for me to paint the first strokes of delicious and delectable colors! A canvas WAITING for me to create a painting that will represent my NEW YEAR! I am ready to run and grab my paint brush, squeeze out dollops of rainbow colored paints on my palette and start and.... WAIT!... without a plan, I may create a mess...




"A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power." Brian Tracy

Words of wisdom! I must design a plan, with 'crazy' in the mix so that I can create a 'year in painting' that I will be proud of when the year ends. I need the right mix of colors, which for me will be: living and celebrating my life with no FEAR, and living to the FULLEST. Loving all around me without abandon, and SHOWING my love rather than just speaking it. The saying action speaks louder than words is definitely applicable here! Laughing until my belly hurts! (an absolute necessity when it comes to riding the waves that come my way!) Being true to myself and my convictions, without fear that others may disagree. And lastly, when spending time with family and friends, making sure, that when I walk away, that person feels better after having spent time with me. WOW, some lofty goals, but at least it is a plan. Yeah, Call me crazy, but I know what I want, and I am willing to do what it takes to get it. And I am claiming this promise:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

SO, with the first day of the new year ahead of me, I have made my plan, I have chosen the colors, I have donned my artist smock and french beret (must look the part!), and I am ready to start painting my year! I am 'aquiver' with excitement.

I hope you to have a plan in mind for the crazy things you want, and I pray that you will EMBRACE the new year with all of it's exciting possibilities! Make your year what you want it to be! Paint your YEAR with wild abandon!

With a grateful heart!

Patti

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

I never KNEW a Dodge Neon could FLY!

Good morning! The tale I am about to tell you is true, and not fabricated in any way, nor shall I embellish the truth to make it sound crazier that in really was. Oh yes! Leave it to me to perform the craziest stunt possible and walk away from it alive! My friends would agree that I can never do anything the easy way. For example, my friends will tell you, "Patti would never have a simple fender bender, it is simply not her style"! And I would have to agree. So, in reflecting upon my craziest most outrageous activity for this year, hands down I would have to give it up for... "The Day My Dodge Neon Took Flight".




Now you may be picturing the Magical Flying Car from Harry Potter, or maybe even the Antiquated, Flying car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Oh no! My Dodge Neon's flight through the air would better be described as a car stunt from the movie the Dukes of Hazard or Dirty Harry. Yes, it was wild, it was outrageous, it was unparalleled, and to quote an off duty police officer who just happened to be following me when this was all going down, his comment: "THAT WAS AMAZING".




Thursday, October 29th started out as a typical CRAZY day. I was running late, and as usual. I was wiping coffee off of my clothes, grabbing what I needed for school, searching for my keys, but at last, whew, I was in the car, starting the engine when I remembered... NO GAS! I was already late as I have told you, but I knew the fumes left in the car would not get me to my destination which is approximately 20 miles from my house. SO, gas station stop, and I am now wiping gasoline off my clothes! Back in the car, I was feeling the adrenaline, and I knew Evil Knievel had nothing on me that morning! I got on the interstate, noting that the roads were a little slick, but still continued along at a Nascar drivers pace as I hurried to be on time.




Now there is a well know curve in Pensacola that takes you from I-110 which I was driving on, and dumps you onto interstate 110 going west toward Mobile. Oh this curve is deceptive, sly and sneaky as you start down it's slippery slope. It is deceptive because is starts out shallow and then makes a sharp lurch to the left, at which point there is no guardrail to keep you from leaving the safety of the interstate, and in my case this was probably a good thing! I was still driving taking this curve at a pretty quick pace, maybe not so nascar'ish' as I know the treachery of this curve, but with a fast pace, a slick road, and a fierce determination to be at work on time, my car chose that moment to go into a little hydroplane!




I am sure you have all been there at one time or another and your husbands words of 'DO NOT SLAM ON THE BRAKES" resonated loudly in your head as it did in mine- NOT SO MUCH! I panicked and I slammed the brake pedal to the floor, and could not figure out why my car started to swerve even more toward the hill lined with those lovely little pine trees. SO, SURELY, slamming the brakes one more time would help, alas NO DICE! My car decided to commune with nature that day, as it left the interstate and somehow propelled itself, according to the off duty police officer, 'AS HIGH AS A HOUSE-MAN!" into the forest of trees!




During my actual experience I remember nothing, but thank goodness my eyewitness, my now new found, and dumb founded off duty police officer friend, was able to fill me in after the fact. I simply remember landing nose down in a ditch, and I couldn't see because my glasses were gone (probably hanging from a tree limb after flying out the now glass deprived back window)! I was FINE, I was ALIVE, and then, I KNEW.... a dreaded phone call was ahead of me, and I lost it. Oh yes, the tears started falling, and santa's bowl full of jelly had nothing on my shaking. As I picked up my cell which was miraculously laying next to me, I dialed the number, the number of all numbers, and I spit the glass from the windshield out of my mouth as I waited for an answer.... And he picked up, "Greg Easton", and all could think to say was, "I THINK I have just been in a very bad car wreck." Luckily by this time my new found friend, Mr. off duty police officer who was still going on about the miracle of my flight, took the phone from my hand, and told Greg to hurry over, that I was lucky to be alive! I got out of the car with one small cut on my leg, a bump on my forehead which later developed into a horn of interesting proportions, and a hair and body full of glass. Yes, I was now living my finest moment! HA! But then I started thinking....




Actually this was one of my finest moments and here is why... That morning, after I had pumped gas, for some reason I had put my seat belt on. Now to all of you normal people out there saying, "and your point is?" I NEVER used to wear a seat belt- my best of friends KNOW this to be a fact! It was too confining and restraining. It left me unable to flail my hands at drivers who were irritating me, or made it impossible to apply lipstick in a very precise fashion. This morning however, unconsciously I put my seat belt on and began my journey. My journey that launched the Neon into unparalleled glory of which no other man has seen the likes of except for my off duty police officer buddy and a few disbelieving fellow travelers.




So, my angels were with me that morning, making sure I buckled my seat belt, surrounding my car as it 'flew through the air with the greatest of ease'! My angels were around me as the car rolled end over end before landing in a downward and upright position! WOW! I was still alive, I was walking, I was talking coherently, well to some that may have been debatable, but I was ALIVE! CRAZY!




Once I got home, I assessed my bodily injuries, which turned to out to be minimal.... the cut leg, the horn on my head, a very bruised shoulder (I had no idea bruises could turn into all the colors of the rainbow) a bruised top of my head from where the roof crashed in on it, and I watched in disbelief as mountains of glass fell out of my hair, my clothes, and my mouth as I was STILL spitting it out!




Once I assessed my bodily injury, which was AMAZINGLY minimal, I sat and, as I always do, thought to myself, "Self, What have you learned from this CRAZY MOMENT in your life? I came away with several invaluable lessons. First, I would never again drive without a seat belt! I hear your chorus of AMENS out there! Second, I would strive to have myself organized in the morning so that I could drive in a less stressed fashion. Third, I would NOT SLAM ON MY BRAKES when hydroplaning. But, by far, the most important lesson, I realized God was not done with me yet! He still had a plan and a purpose left for me. There was still time to love my family and friends, time to meet and make new friends, time to perfect and share my gifts and talents, time, time TIME! I still had time, and since that life changing day, October 29th, 2010, I have chosen to live my life with an attitude of gratitude. I am so thankful for each and every day, and what that day brings me. I am simply CRAZY about my family and my friends, and I am passionate about showing them and telling them exactly how much I love and appreciate them. I have started reacquainting myself with crafts and hobbies I had let fall by the wayside, and I have started writing again. Something I love and enjoy, and do to be a blessing and encouragement to others.




So this, was the CRAZIEST moment in my life for the year 2011. But, I would not change a thing! I have learned from this lesson. And to end this tale of my "FANCIFUL FLIGHT" I will say to you, never take your life, your day, your family (including you furry family members), your friends or your gifts and talents for granted. Always strive to live each day to the fullest, laughing all the way. Always be thankful that you do have someone looking out for you, even when you are not aware of it, and realize YOU are here for a REASON and a PURPOSE.




I am thankful for you my friends. I love you, and look forward to the times that we will share, living, laughing and loving our way through this CRAZY JOURNEY called life!

And a little p.s. to this story. While attending a Christmas party a few nights back, a friend who knew about the accident asked me, "Are those YOUR skid marks on the curve?" And with a laugh I looked at him and said,"YEAH! they are, and aren't you glad I am here!"

Crazy People!

Crazy People... the world is full of them! Now when I say crazy people, I am not referring to my brand of 'crazy' which means laughing at my mistakes, having the strong desire to make other people laugh, or finding humor in the silliest of situations. I am talking about people who are "FULL, BLOWN OUT, CRAZY!"


I am often very naive and accepting when it comes to making new friends, and I guess some people would say 'THAT IS CRAZY'! But I love people, and I always attempt to look for the good in people. Somewhere along the line though, I missed being blessed with the 'NUTTER' radar. You know, that radar that is supposed to go off when you meet someone who has that Jeckyll/ Hyde personality! Oh my, if I could purchase a 'SPOT A NUT JOB' radar somewhere I would buy it!

Have any of you met a person on Facebook that you just seemingly 'click' with. Well, I found a person JUST like that on our local Facebook news site, and we became Facebook friends! Oh, she was nice, fun, intelligent, seemingly having the same values as I, the same positive, humorous, fun outlook on life that I have! Did I mention that I met her on 'Facebook'? Well, the friendly posts turned into friendly inboxes, which turned into a friendly first meeting, which turned into a few friendlier get togethers, which then turned into an 'exorcist, head spinning, foaming at the mouth like, chaotic drama! I had NO clue that one person could fabricate, insinuate or create such DRAMA in one's life. AND I could not believe that I had allowed myself to be sucked into the mouth of well, a DRAMA of MASS DESTRUCTION. Oh, I stepped in to console and conjole, and 'be the friend' that one should be when these dramas creep up. I gave advice, prayed for her, sent cards, yes I even left numerous texts and voice mails, because for some reason my friend did not like 'talking on the phone'! Maybe that should have been my first clue?

As usual, when life hands me one of these learning lessons, a 'crazy lemon', I look at if from every angle to decide: what can I do differently next time? And here is the conclusion I have come to. First of all, you don't have to accept every friend request that someone sends you on facebook! WOW! What was a brilliant, Oprah, 'a-ha' moment that was for me! Secondly, the truest friends you will meet are those whom you meet in PERSON. You may meet them in a place of common interest, or in a gathering of common friends, a place of worship, or a club of shared hobbies. Not on a facebook site! And thirdly, if a person can only communicate via texting and facebook... there may be an issue. Now there are some exceptions to that rule, I have found, but they are very few and far between! (those of you that are the exception to the rule know who you are- xoxo)

So as I sit and ponder my 'true friends', I can honestly say, that I am blessed with many. And to those who have given new meaning to the phrase 'You are one card short of a full deck', I say hasta la vista baby! Life is too short to live your drama! The phrase, "save your drama for yo' mama" has taken on a whole new meaning.

This has been a hard lesson to learn, but I can sit and laugh now, from my 'drama' free zone. The long and short of this lesson; Pray for guidance when seeking new friends. Pray that you will be equipped with a 'lunatic radar' (I have found that the 'Hershey Kiss Tin Foil Hats' that the actors wore in the movies "SIGNS" work fabulously at deftlecting the crazies!). Look for the 'glaring' psycho' signals that are amazingly obvious to most, but may slip by you if you believe there is truly massive amounts of goodness in all mankind. Don't be afraid to ask your 'true' friends to look out for you, and to warn you, lest you slip though the cracks of someone else's duplicitous drama! Beware of the 'crazies' my friends, for they ARE out there, and they DO have plans to rob you of your joy, your time, your passion, and your happiness! BUT with prayer and counsel from true friends you can avoid the pits that I have blindly fallen into. In all seriousness, the most important lesson I have learned is as follows: you become like the people you choose to surround yourself with. I don't know about you but I choose to surround myself with people who love life, and who are living their lives joyfully, honestly and to the fullest. That is what I want for my life, so from now on that is what I seek for as I choose my friends! Luckily I have moved on without any damage, but with a much wiser outlook on the meaning of a 'true friend'. To my true friends, I love laughing with you and sharing your joys and good times as well as bad times. To those wearing a drama queen tiara... I am sorry there is too much life left for me to live and too much fun left to be had!

Living laughing and loving from a drama free zone!

My NOT so Crazy Christmas!

I woke up to a chilly Christmas morning, It was is so easy to remember in the not too distant past, 2 little sets of feet running to say, "SANTA WAS HERE! LET'S GET UP"! Well on THIS Christmas morning, with 2 much older children still asleep in their beds, I was the one excitedly waiting for THEM to 'nonchalantly' drag themselves up and say... time to get up? But there IS a secret...






Christmas Eve night, as I sat wrapping the 'two hooligans' gifts, I could hear a noise from upstairs. It was the above named 'hooligans', now 18 and 20 as they were sitting in Wes's room talking and laughing... not punching and screaming, but actually getting along, and it hit me: THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS!






As I sat in bed, on Christmas morning, in peace and silence and serenity, I was mentally shouting, "SANTA WAS HERE KIDS! GET UP!" I am realizing, that while times have changed, the joy of Christmas will never change. We may just express our feelings and attitudes a little differently as we age and experience life and its changes.






As it turned out, the day was peaceful, magical and different in a CRAZY sort of way that I never expected. The Easton household set a new record as it took us over an hour to open up the gifts we had purchased! We enjoyed just sitting, talking and reminiscing about Christmases past. It was a day when my heart actually embraced and rejoiced in the changes. It was a day when I said to myself, I am getting older, my kids are growing up, and I am just fine with that today.






Now I sit here with another week of vacation ahead of me! Plans? Oh my yes! Plans for relaxation, crafting, family, friends. And, I am spending time reflecting on this past year of craziness; a year of lessons learned, victories achieved, and personal growth in abundance. I embrace the New Year coming, in the way I always do, with excitement and a twinkle in my eye, knowing that there are MANY crazy and fun adventures ahead. I can hardly wait! My newest, craziest, most exciting thing planned? Changing my diet and fitness habits. I don't plan on eating like a rabbit and running to the gym every day, but I plan on trying a Vegan diet, thanks to wisdom and encouragement from my Vegan guru and wild and crazy friend Gwen! I plan on taking walks around my lovely neighborhood, and working up a sweat as I enjoy the scenery of the bay which surrounds me and magnolia lined neighborhood in which I live. And I plan on spending time each day reflecting on my blessings and thanking God for using my 'crazy' life to help others realize how truly sane they are! ; ) Or at least bring a smile to someone who may actually read my silliness.






Last night, I took a little Facebook quiz! "What will 2011 bring for you?" I laughed with pure joy and happiness as I read the following prediction: "Patti got HAPPINESS!! 2011 will be a very happy year for you,and you will have many laughs and good times!" I expect nothing else! NOTHING LESS! As I am often heard saying "I have a mental party going on at all times!"









I pray that each one of you, experienced your own Christmas magic and love with your families this year, and I pray that as you look ahead, you will find a year full of blessings, fun, joy, much laughter and and good times. God's blessings to you.






With love and laughter,

Patti

Technology is Insane! But I love it!

Yesterday was proof to me that our teenagers live in crazy technological world.  While playing on Facebook, I began to receive Instant Messages from my daughter who was sitting just across the room from me.  We each laughed as we heard the 'ding' of a  message being received.  We 'chatted' about our plans for the weekend, about the Christmas Tree Lighting she had just attended with friends, about the cute boy she had just met! In the craziness of that moment, I felt the need for her to see the words... "I LOVE YOU".  I felt such incredible warmth in my heart as I received a return message, "Mom I love you SOOOO much"! We shut down our computers, hugged, and laughed about the fact that we had just shared a 'new age technolgical' moment.  I am blessed that we still share the old fashioned ability to talk face to face too, but this kind of communication was a first and I sit here laughing as I type.

Last night, I became a tad bit upset at a modern day teenage fad called texting, as my son's cell phone went off at 1:15 in the morning, waking me out of a dead sleep.  Amused by technology at 1:15?   I think not.  BUT, then I started to think,  I have my son just down the hall,  I know he is safe and sound,  and I was overwhelmed with that 'crazy' love feeling for my firstborn.  He left for work early this morning , but you can bet your bottom dollar, when he walks in that door, I will thank him for the nightly interruption which reminded me of how much I love him, and how grateful I am to have him in my life.

Texting, about $7.99 a month.  Internet rate, about $50.00 a month.  My son and my daughter, and the capability to talk and share whether by phone, text, computer or face to face, PRICELESS!

The Last Day of Thanksgiving Break- and I am still happy or delusional- there is still question about this matter!

Where did the time go?  Oh, I remember.  I spent the time making Christsmas cards, finishing my first CD, cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my family, napping, crafting, watching movies... creating memories.

What a year to be Thankful for.  The biggest blessing without a doubt was living though my car wreck.  Having that feeling that I had been given the chance to go and do something with my life.  Things have been crazy around here but despite the hassels of getting a car, coordinating driving and running around with only one car- remember the almost 18 year old Katie and her VERY social activity calendar!  I have learned to be joyful and peaceful.  And I have worked very hard to be positive and eliminate the negatives in my life.  What a difference that has made.

As I sit at 6:20 a.m. on the last day before school starts again, what will I do with my day?  I will be thankful first of all... that my husband is just across the room 'SAWING LOGS'!  lol  Just means he is here. I am thankful that I have my almost adult kid, and one almost 18 year old definite drama queen! (Katie I love you, BUT where DO you get that from- ha!) up in their beds where I can peek in on them and remember days gone by, and be thankful that I still have them even for the limited time that they will be residing in their mom's house.  I am grateful that I can sit here with a heart full of gratitude for a GREAT vacation, and then sit and quietly plan my day.  I am happy to sit and say,  life is good.  God has given me this life and I am going to LIVE IT and live it to the fullest!